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KRA sues two hides traders over Sh204m tax evasion

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Cow hides and skins impounded at the Mombasa port in 2013. File Photo | GEORGE KIKAMI | NMG

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has filed criminal charges against two Nairobi-based hides and skins traders for alleged tax fraud and failure to file returns leading to loss of revenue amounting to Sh204 million.

Claire Marisiana Odimwa and Maureen Mwamburi are accused of under declaring the weight and measure of wet cow hides meant for export by 3,862,264kgs with the intention of evading paying the correct export duty.

The accused are said to have committed the offence between June 26, 2015 and September 30, 2016 within Nairobi. They had exported the hides and skins in 275 containers.

Earlier in 2013, the two had jointly filed a petition in the High Court against KRA, challenging the provisions of the Finance Act, 2012, which came into force on January 7, 2013.

The Act increased export duty on hides and skins from Sh20 per kilo to Sh40. The High Court, however, dismissed suit.

READ: Agency impounds Sh100mn fake goods at Mombasa port

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