KRA charges businessman with Sh11.6bn tax evasion

Businessman Parmar Kirit Kumar Ranchodbhai in a Nairobi Court where he was charged with failing to remit over Sh11 billion in tax. PHOTO | RICHARD MUNGUTI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Parmar allegedly failed to declare Sh3,421,645,274 value added tax returns to Kenya Revenue Authority for 2015 income.
  • Mr Andayi further directed that the suspect be detained until the process to complete the surety is concluded.

A foreign businessman was Friday charged before a Nairobi court with failing to remit Sh11.6 billion in valued added tax.

Parmar Kirit Kumar Ranchodbhai from India was charged a day after businessman Keval Kumar Navin Maisura was charged with claims of failing to remit Sh7 billion to the taxman.

Mr Parmar was arraigned before Nairobi chief magistrate Francis Andayi who released him on Sh3 million surety bond with an alternative cash bail Sh1.5 million.

Mr Andayi further directed that the suspect be detained until the process to complete the surety is concluded.

PASSPORT
The court further allowed the application by chief KRA prosecutor, Sylvester Okello, to have Mr Parmar’s passport deposited in court as a condition for his release.

Mr Parmar, through Lawyer Nick Biketi, applied that he be released on lenient bond term, saying he is not a flight risk.

“We kindly request this court to release the accused on lenient bond term. He is married and works in Bungoma and he also undertakes to attend full hearings until the end of his trial,” Mr Biketi said.

Mr Parmar allegedly failed to declare Sh3,421,645,274 value added tax returns to Kenya Revenue Authority for 2015 income.

VAT RETURNS

The suspect was accused of knowingly and deliberately committing the offence with others not before court on diverse dates between June 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 in Kasarani, Nairobi.

The Indian national is also charged with knowingly and deliberately omitting Sh8,037,383,938 VAT returns for 2016 income.

He allegedly committed the second charge with others not before court on diverse dates between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.

In the third count, Mr Parmar allegedly failed to declare Sh237,177,262 VAT returns last year.

He was also charged with failure to file a return of income tax returns by due date for his 2015 and 2016 income as required by the law.

The suspect pleaded not guilty to all the four counts.

The case will be mentioned and heard on April 16 and 25 respectively.