This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Businessman Humphrey Kariuki, wanted by police in a Sh41 billion tax evasion case, has received a temporary reprieve after a court suspended an order to freeze his accounts.
On August 9, Milimani Resident Magistrate Muthoni Nzibe had ordered the freezing of Mr Kariuki's accounts, as well as those of his companies African Spirits Limited (ASL) and Wow Beverages Limited (WBL), pending a case by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji.
However, in a ruling on Thursday, Ms Nzibe suspended the order, citing the DPP's failure to provide a list of the properties and bank accounts to be frozen.
"[Seven days later], the DPP has not filed inventory to enable this court to [issue] proper directives. He did not comply with the orders of this court," she said.
The court also directed police not to attach Mr Kariuki's aircrafts, ships, 45 cars, movable and immovable properties until the cases by the DPP and WBL are determined.
The DPP had named Mr Kariuki, ASL, and WBL as respondents in the case, which involves 21 counts of tax evasion and being in possession of counterfeit excise duty stamps.
Among the charges are failing to pay Sh17.7 billion to the commissioner of domestic taxes between February 1, 2016 and December 3, 2018.
