Mary Wambui Mungai and Purity Njoki Mungai also failed to honour summons to appear in court and answer charges of unpaid taxes amounting to Sh2.2 billion by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Warrants of arrest were issued by Chief Magistrate at the Anti-Corruption Court, Felix Mutinda Kombo against two directors of Purma Holdings limited on Monday for failing to appear in court and answer charges of unpaid taxes amounting to Sh2.2 billion. The two face eight 8 counts of knowingly and unlawfully omitting taxes due in the income tax returns submitted to the Commissioner for Domestic Taxes for the period between 2014-2016.
Sylvanus Osoro, Mungai informed the court through their lawyer she was admitted to the hospital. However, no medical records or disclosure of illness or hospitalization were provided. The court agreed with the prosecution that the two are buying time instead of confronting the charges levelled against them.
The accrued taxes are due from mega-state tenders awarded to the company by the military for the supply of cereals, uniforms and boots as well as KN95 surgical face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) and other state departments. In July, she and her two daughters, Everlyn Nyambura and Purity Njoki were summoned by KRA to shed light on the alleged unpaid taxes but they failed to honour the summons. Ms Mungai’s daughters then obtained court orders blocking their arrest for failing to honour the summons.
According to a statement released by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Wambui, alongside Purity Njoki Mungai, who are both directors of Purma Holdings Limited, escaped from their hotel rooms a few minutes before the police and KRA officers arrived to arrest them on Wednesday. Upon searching the hotel premises, KRA officers and the police found personal belongings of the two including cash, bank cards and car keys; a clear indication that the two were residing at the hotel.it is still unclear who tipped them off.
The case will be mentioned on December 14, 2021.
