A truck driver pleads guilty for stealing transit cargo bound for DRC worth Sh2.8M
A truck driver has pleaded guilty before Eldoret Law Court to charges of interfering with transit cargo bound for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and stealing goods worth Kshs 2.8 million.
The accused, Francis Murungi was jointly charged with Abraham Some and Gladys Mwangi with two counts of interfering with a consignment of 877 bales of mosquito nets without permission from authorised Customs officer.
“The offences were committed on 1st November, 2020 at Juakaliarea within Uasin Gishu County. Abraham Some and Gladys Mwangidenied the charges before Principal Magistrate Naomi Wairimu and were both released on a bond of Sh2,000,000 each and surety of similar amount,” read the press statement.
He also admitted to second count of removing Customs seals from the truck before stealing 720 bales of the mosquito nets. The consignment originated from China.
The truck owner reported the missing cargo at Industrial Police Station, KRA and to the DCI.
According to KRA the Customs seals enabled them to carry out real time monitoring and tracking of transit cargo from the point of loading to the point of discharge to avoid dumping of cargo.
Arming of the truck with the Customs seals was done in Mombasa before the truck left for DRC.
Investigations (DCI) officers tracked and found the truck parked at Jua Kali in Eldoret where the driver was arrested.
However, upon verification, it was found that the Customs seal had been tampered with and 720 bales of mosquito nets were missing.
Details of the case indicate that the clearing agent applied for transshipment of the container to another truck at Mazeras, which then proceeded the journey.
By Joy Kyalo
