Former Kenyan Minister imprisoned in Uganda for gold smuggling
Former Deputy Minister for Internal Security, Stephen Kipkiyeny Tarus, has been remanded to the Luzira Maximum Security Prison in Uganda for his involvement in an alleged fraudulent gold deal.
Tarus was arrested by Ugandan authorities on January 6, 2024, in possession of falsified Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) documents, in violation of Section 203 (b) of the East African Community Customs Management Act 2004.
With these documents, the former minister ferried 13 kilos of gold into Uganda.
He is alleged to also have forged a receipt of US $ 30,000 bearing the logos of URA and tendered it to an unsuspecting Indian businessman from Mumbai in December 2023.
The said Indian, Pravine, according to Monitor, was in the capital of Uganda for some investments which he had replicated in DR Congo with plans to do the same in Ghana, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
He was contacted by the Kenyan politician about the said gold and after payment, he was issued the fake URA receipt.
Pravine who sought to cross-check the receipt with URA officials realized it was a forged one, leading to the tracking and arrest of Tarus.
After a seven-day investigation period, Tarus was arraigned before an Anti-corruption court presided over by Justice Esther Asiimwe in Kampala on Wednesday, January 10, and remanded in prison.
The ex-minister is expected to reappear in court to charges of gold smuggling, scamming, and forgery of URA’s documents.
He will face jail time of three years or a fine of US $ 10,000 if he is found guilty, according to Monitor.
The 57-year-old was deputy minister under the late President Mwai Kibaki’s administration and served as High Commissioner to Australia between 2009 and 2012. He has also served as Member of Parliament for Emgwen Constituency between 2003 and 2007.
