Seven persons have been charged with being in possession of uncustomed goods, namely, milk with a dutiable value of over Sh6 million
The seven include Ahmed Ibrahim, Osama Abdikarim, Abdimalik Mohamed, Abdiwahim Osman, Dahir Hussein, Nabusuwa Isaac and Said Abdulahi.
According to the charge sheet presented before Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, the accused persons were on Tuesday found in possession of uncustomed goods all with a dutiable value of Sh6,718,153.59.
They were also charged with importing dairy produce without a valid permit issued by the Kenya Diary Board.
This is contrary to the Diary Industry (Import and Export) Regulations, 2021.
They were further charged with failing to pay import levy to the Kenya Diary Board contrary to the above Regulations.
"Ahmed Ibrahim Abdile, Osama Abdikarim Mohamed, Abdimalik Mohamed Abdulahi, Abdiwahim Osman Kasim, Dahir Hussein Abdi, Nabusuwa Isaac and Said Abdulahi Dirie on 23rd day of January 2024 they jointly were found in possession of uncustomed goods whose import levy totalling to Sh1,000,000 had not been paid contrary to the said regulations," the charge sheet reads on the last count.
The dairy produce in question summed up to 7,291 in tins, pieces and bags of various brands of powdered milk.
Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi, the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Following the plea of innocence, Defence Counsel Kuswo made an oral application for release on reasonable bond terms.
He submitted that the accused persons were innocent until proven otherwise and were entitled to release on reasonable bond.
He stated that the seven being employees were not responsible for paying import levies or customing the goods.
"They lack knowledge and capacity to know if goods are customed or not because theirs is to sell. They are not the wholesaler's owners," Kuswo said.
He added that they were all Kenyans and married with children.
The counsel urged the court to release them on lenient cash bail terms of Sh50,000.
The state did not oppose bail or bond application.
The court released them on a bond of Sh2 million with one surety of a similar amount, each with an alternative of Sh500,000 cash bail with one contact person each.
The prosecution was ordered to supply the accused persons with the case documents.
The case will be mentioned on February 7.