Kshs 4bn KRA fraud suspect held for 40 days pending investigations

By Ben Chumba

The court has ordered a man accused of electronic fraud resulting in the loss of 4 billion shillings by KRA to remain in custody pending the ruling on his bail application in a week’s time. 

Alex Mutungi Mutuku who is facing similar charges at the city court is considered a flight risk due to his frequent travels in and out of the country.

The prosecution is seeking to have him in custody for 40 days to complete investigations.

Chief magistrate Francis Andai ordered the accused to remain in custody until the 28th when he will make a ruling on his bail application.

The prosecution in seeking to have him denied bail argued the accused Mutuku only required to access a computer to commit fraud.

Alex Mutuku is accused of fraudulently causing Kenya Revenue Authority to lose 3.9 Billion shillings on diverse dates between March 2015 and March 2017 in Nairobi County by interfering with the institutions electronic systems.

And 15 people among them a system administrator with Kenya women finance trust bank have been charged with 16 counts of stealing.

Arnold Aluko Williams is accused of being the mastermind in a case where Kenya Women Finance Trust bank lost over 550 million shillings.

He is accused of making an internal access system enabling the transfer of 520 million shillings besides stealing an amount of 30 million in collaboration with other accused persons.

The offences were committed on the 15th and 17th days of April 2016.

Aluko is out on a 500,000 shillings cash bail while his other co-accused are out on 100,000 shillings cash bail each.

So far 22 witnesses have recorded statements in the case scheduled for hearing in July.