Four charged for allegedly interfering with condemned powder milk

Four men were Wednesday charged in a Nairobi Anti-Corruption court for allegedly interfering with condemned powder milk seized for destruction.

The court heard that Joseph Ndungu Guchecha, Ramadhan Kariuki Gitau, Edwin Wanjala Barasa and Francis Kyalo Mwandandu jointly with others not before court without the authority of the Commissioner Customs and Border Control, interfered with 1,511 bags each containing 25 kg of condemned powdered milk which were subjected to customs control by virtue of having been seized for destruction.

According to a statement by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) the suspects were also charged with stealing 1,511 bags each containing 25 kg of condemned powdered milk, the property of the Kenya Revenue Authority.

“It is alleged that the accused persons committed the offense on the 3rd May, 2023 at Sambot Ship’s Contractors within Mombasa County.“ The statement read.

Ramadhan was separately charged with the additional offence of being in possession of 1,511 bags each containing 25kgs of condemned powdered milk.

The offence he allegedly committed on the 16th May, 2024 at Nuff Enterprises in Umoja Three in Nairobi.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Joseph, Edwin and Francis were released on a bond of Ksh. 200, 000 and alternative cash bail of Ksh. 100, 000, while Ramadhan was released on a bond of Ksh. 500, 000 or cash bail of Ksh. 200, 000.

The court issued a warrant of arrest against Florance Wanjiku Muiruri, Moses Boyi Odhiambo and Daniel Ngugi after they failed to attend court.

Prosecution through Duncan Ondimu, OGW, Vincent Cheruiyot and Victor Nchaga told court that the three failed to attend court despite being summoned by police and efforts to trace them were futile.

Meanwhile, ODPP says, three other people were also charged in the same court for allegedly making false entry contrary to Section 203(a) of the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004.

The Senior Principal Prosecution Counsel, Duncan Ondimu, OGW, told the court that Michael Wafula Obunde, Geo Freight Forwards Ltd and Jesse Michael Muganda on diverse dates between the 13th July, 2023 and 20th August 2023 at an unknown place, jointly with others not before court made false custom entries by using a KRA pin registered to Di Lorenzo Limited, purporting it to be the exporter.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on a bond of Ksh. 200, 000 or cash bail of Ksh. 100, 000.

The court also issued a warrant of arrest against Christopher Odongo Asoka after he failed to appear in court to face a similar charge.

The Honourable Thomas Nzyoki directed the cases to be mentioned on 2nd July for pre-trial.

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