Three Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) employees have been charged with concealing imported goods contrary to section 202(a) of the East African Community management act of 2004.
Tom Ouma Oyugi, Enoch Omondi Odhiambo and William Langat are accused of concealing imported goods to wit 1460 rolls of electric cables valued at Sh 6 million and 50bags of Chinese wheat flour valued at Sh 90,000 at the KPA shed.
The three were charged alongside two other accused persons, Eric Muthomi Micheni and James Gichuku Njeru. The court heard that the accused committed the offence on diverse dates between 31st July and 4th August 2018 at Inland Container Depot, Embakasi in Nairobi jointly with others before court.
Micheni and Njeru further faced a similar charge where they are accused of concealing goods including them 34 boxes of cockroach powder each with 1000 pieces, Philips Florescent starters 19 boxes each with 2400 pieces, gas burners, face and body cream, reusable diapers, insecticide powder among others.
The two were further charged of having in possession in the course of trade counterfeit goods to wit 1490 rolls of electric cables branded East African Cables violating trademarks No.69890 of class 6 having a total of 6 million.
The accused persons denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi.
The defense lawyers requested the court to order the release of the mobile phones of the accused persons alleged to be have been confiscated by the police during their arrest.
However the prosecution informed the court that the investigating officer had taken the phones for analyses and was therefore unable to produce them in court until the process is completed.
The defense therefore requested the matter to be dealt with during the mention of the matter.
The magistrate granted the Ports employees a bond of Sh 500,000 or a cash bail of Sh 300,000 while Micheni and Njeru were granted a bond of Sh 1 million or a cash bail of Sh 500,000 for reasons that they faced more charges.
The case will be mentioned on 27th August and will be heard on 3rd September 2018.
