Auctioneer arraigned for soliciting Ksh.2 million bribe 'to facilitate waiver' of tax arrears

A Nairobi-based auctioneer was on Friday arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court for soliciting a bribe of Ksh.2 million from a private company to facilitate the "waiver" of Ksh.19.5 million, in tax arrears, owed to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

John Obura Dimo, who was arrested in Utawala on Thursday,  is said to have committed the offence on November 26, 2020 at a Ruiru Mabati Factory Showroom within Kiambu County.

Dimo, who is said to have been evading police since December 2022, denied the charges before Milimani Anti-Corruption Magistrate Kagure Nyutu.

"The suspect, who was out on police bail pending investigations, defied EACC summons to appear for plea-taking and instead disappeared in December 2022," a source at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) told Citizen Digital.

"He denied that on 26th November 2020, he improperly requested a financial advantage of Ksh.2 million from the complainant with the intent that in consequence thereof, he would facilitate the writing off tax arrears of Ksh.19,456,309 owed to KRA."

Dimo was freed on Ksh.1 million bond or a Ksh.500,000 cash bail.

The case will be mentioned on October 5, 2023.