Kenyan arraigned for a-Sh8.1-billion tax evasion in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. Oil trader Abshir Afrah has appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court facing three counts, including a Sh8.1 billion tax evasion.

Other charges that the Nairobi-based resident is facing are money laundering and occasioning the government of Tanzania a loss of the aforementioned amount which was supposed to be paid to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) for his fuel business.  

The 56-year-old Kenyan of Somali origin was taken to court on Wednesday, May 22 and the counts against him were read before Resident Magistrate Janeth Mtega.

Reading the charge sheet, State Attorney Wankyo Simon said the accused was facing three counts in an economic sabotage case No.41/2019. 

In the first count, Mr Simon said between 2015 and 2018 here in the city, Mr Afrah evaded the said value in taxes against the Tax Act, 2015.

In the second count, the accused allegedly during the period under review plunged the Taxman into a loss of the said amount due to tax evasion.

The third count facing Mr Afrah involves a-Sh8.1-billion money laundering despite knowing that avoiding paying the tax amounted to tax evasion.

The accused was required not to respond because the court had no jurisdictions of hearing an economic sabotage case until it received a permit from the Director of Public  Prosecutions (DPP).

The plaintiff side claimed investigations were incomplete hence requesting the court to give another date for mentioning. 

In a swift reaction, Ms Mtega postponed the case until June 4. The accused was thereafter taken back to remand prison.