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Alphonce Mung’ahu

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has lost bid to block billionaire liquor manufacturer Humphrey Kariuki from travelling overseas for two-and-a-half months to attend to his businesses.

Billionaire businessman is facing a Sh41 billion tax evasion suit. 

Dismissing the DPP’s assertion that Kariuki is a flight risk, Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku, said the court has previously allowed the tycoon to fly out of the country on five occasions when the case is ongoing.

 Through his lawyer Cecil Miller, Kariuki had applied to have his passports back. Mutuku granted Miller the application to give back Kariuki’s Kenyan and Cyprian passports to enable him travel to Britain, DRC Congo and Zambia between September 30 and November 16.

Magistrate said the DPP failed to present evidence to prove that Kariuki is a flight risk and that he will not return for the hearing of his lawsuits. 

Senior State Prosecutor Angela Fuchaka had opposed the plea to allow Kariuki to travel saying “he can transact his business and bank ventures virtually from Kenya”.

But Mutuku, in her ruling said; “Neither the Prosecution nor the court can direct Kariuki on how to conduct his businesses locally and internationally.”