Many have been asking themselves who is this businessman that has apparently conducted business in Kenya for ages without paying Tax all through and where were KRA officials? Businessman Humphrey Kariuki has finally spoken out over Sh41 billion tax evasion charges he is defending himself in the court of law.
In a statement on Tuesday, he said Kariuki stated that he is a law-abiding citizen who hasn’t been involved in any criminal activity.
“I am a patriotic and law-abiding citizen… The truth, law, and evidence are wholly behind me. I shall defend myself adequately and openly for the general public to know the truth,” Kariuki said.
Kariuki said he is not involved in the management and day to day running of African Spirits which is at the center of tax evasion claims, as well as allegations of possession of uncustomed ethanol and counterfeit stamps.
On his defense, Kariuki states that any allegation linking him to malpractices at the firm is in bad faith.
I’m reading Statement by Humphrey Kariuki 19.08 on @Scribd #ReadMore https://www.scribd.com/document/422609164/Statement-by-Humphrey-Kariuki-19-08
According to Kariuki, jealous and malicious people in government and other business competitors are out to tarnish his name because he has multiple business interests across the globe, which he says make him be away from Kenya for almost half of every year.
His defense lawyers told media that Kariuki is a typical Kenyan entrepreneur who has made a significant contribution to the Kenyan economy through his widespread sets of businesses he has invested in as well as employment creation.
The lawyer was talking after his client Kariuki, was on Monday rearrested after being freed on bail. He had earlier been granted Sh11 million bail with an alternative bond of Sh22 million over tax evasion charges.