The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers have recovered hard cash totaling US$.28,000 (Ksh.3,130,199.61) that was shipped into the country via the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on November 5, 2021.
The cash arrived at the JKIA in form of a parcel which was coming from South Carolina State, United States of America (U.S.A)
“On 5th November 2021, officers from Posta Parcel Office jointly with KRA customs officers based at City Square Post Office discovered 28,000 USD concealed in ta clothing,” said KRA.
The said jacket belonged to a man the KRA has identified as Peter Oluwafemi of Nigerian nationality and was sent by Ms. Linda C Dye, a resident of South Carolina.
According to Kenyan law, Oluwafemi committed financial promotion of an offence contrary to section 7 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act and Conveyance of Monetary Instruments to Kenya.
This, according to KRA is contrary to section 12 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act which required a person within Kenyan territory to declare any amount above US$.10,000 (Ksh. 1,117,214.14)
The Act gives the agency powers to obtain a court order seizing money within five days, where there is reasonable grounds to believe that it is illicit money.
Oluwafemi was arraigned in Court on November 8, 2021 but pleaded not guilty to both charges.
He was released on a Ksh.150,000 cash bail and is also expected to execute a personal bond of Ksh.200,000.
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Oluwafemi’s resounds a last year’s case on December 9 when the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) sought court orders to freeze over Ksh.100 million seized from a Nigerian at the JKIA while heading to Dubai.
Mauzu Bala was arrested with the money, in 880,000 US dollars, 60,000 euros and 63,000 Nigerian naira, stacked in his handbag.
ARA said his failure to disclose that he was carrying such a huge amount of money and produce documents supporting the legitimacy of the cash raised suspicion of money laundering.
“The threshold for requiring the declaration did not comply as the respondent did not disclose the source of the cash, the business he was doing and the basis of moving with cash of that magnitude,” Fedrick Musyoki, a police investigator attached to ARA, said in an affidavit.
When asked why he was carrying such a huge amount, Mr Bala allegedly said he was heading to Dubai for business.
