A Nairobi-based man has been fined Ksh3 million or serve a two-year prison term for soliciting Ksh2.9 million bribe from church officials, the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has revealed.
The convict, Philip Mutua Kilonzo, was found guilty of demanding a Ksh2.9 million bribe from officials of the United African Evangelical Ministry and Grace Children’s Home on October 4, 2020. The bribe, according to revelations by ODPP, was to help influence the writing off of taxes due to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). For the crime, he was fined Ksh1.5 million or serve two years in prison.
He was also fined Ksh1.5 million for soliciting the same bribe amount on several occasions between October 3 and October 8, 2020, from officials of the United African Evangelical Ministry.
“A clearing agent has been fined Ksh. 3 million, or in default, face two years in prison for attempting to solicit a bribe of Ksh. 2.9 million. At the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi, Philip Mutua Kilonzo was convicted on two counts of requesting a bribe and one count of obtaining money by false pretences. Kilonzo was sentenced to pay a fine of Ksh. 1.5 million or serve two years in prison for demanding a Ksh. 2.9 million bribe from officials of the United African Evangelical Ministry and Grace Children’s Home on October 4, 2020,” ODPP stated.
“His intent was to reportedly influence the writing off of alleged taxes due to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). The court also sentenced him to another fine of Ksh. 1.5 million for soliciting the same bribe amount on several occasions between October 3 and October 8, 2020, from officials of the United African Evangelical Ministry.”
Kilonzo was fined Ksh50,000 or face eight months in prison for obtaining Ksh20,000 under false pretences. ODPP says on October 1, 2020, Kilonzo misled officials from the United African Evangelical Ministry into giving him Ksh20,000, claiming it was for travel expenses from Busia to Nairobi.
“This was allegedly for a meeting with KRA officials to resolve a tax dispute between KRA and Grace Children’s Home. Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore ruled that Kilonzo should serve all sentences concurrently. The case was prosecuted by Thelma Nanjaya,” ODPP added.
Francis Muli
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