Court convicts two suspects for smuggling sugar from Uganda

Kapenguria Law Court has convicted two suspects after finding them guilty of smuggling sugar from Uganda.

The case was presided over by Kapenguria Senior Principal Magistrate Samuel Mutai who  found Leonard Rotino and Collins Ignatious Steekamp guilty of smuggling 700 bags of sugar each weighing 50kg branded Kaliro brown sugar and manufactured in Uganda.

The court sentenced Rotino, importer of the goods, to 5 years imprisonment or a fine payment of half the dutiable value of the goods which is Kshs 1,575,000. Steekamp, a truck driver, was however sentenced to pay a fine of Ksh 50,000.

The 700 bags of brown sugar were forfeited to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). 

KRA investigation officers were assisted by DCI officers from Kacheliba to intercept a truck along Karita – Kacheliba road carrying imported sugar without import documents, thereby leading to the arrest of the duo. 

 

According to the investigation reports, the sugar lacked import documents such as the importation licence and a certificate of origin from the East African Countries.

Rotino and Steekamp were charged with importing restricted goods contrary to section 200(a) (ii) of the East African Community and Customs Management Act 2004 and Conveying uncustomed goods contrary to section 199(b) (iii) of the East African community and Customs Management Act 2004.