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Nairobi Court Charges Two Directors for Fictitious VAT Purchase Claims
"I have noted that the duo had been consistently attending to investigators since 2022 without fail, and also the prosecution did not oppose their release on bail," the Magistrate noted.
Two directors of Sollenti International Limited were charged in a Nairobi court with fraud related to tax charges by claiming fictitious purchases to reduce Value Added Tax (VAT).
Vincent Somba Ndeti and Helen Mueni Ndeti appeared before the Milimani Principal Magistrate Geffrey Onsarigo, facing eight counts of fraud related to tax contrary to Section 97 (c) as read with Section 104(3) of the tax procedures.
The court heard that on or before June 30, 2020, at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, being directors of Sollenti International Limited and a registered taxpayer jointly with others not before the court knowingly and unlawfully made an incorrect statement in their Value Added Tax returns for the period of 2020 by under declaring income of Ksh 2,451,562 and claiming fictitious purchase of Ksh 319,352,512 thereby reducing their tax liability by Ksh 51,488,652.
In another count, during the same period, it stated that they made incorrect statements in their income tax returns for the year 20020 by reducing income of Ksh 2,451,562 and fictitious purchase of Ksh 220,186,512, thereby reducing their tax liability by Ksh 55,702,119.
They were also accused of making incorrect statements in their income tax returns for the year 20021 by reducing income of Ksh 52,927,549 and fictitious purchases of Ksh 476,842,239, thereby reducing their VAT by Ksh 84,763,166.
They denied the charges and pleaded for lenient bond terms, claiming they had been cooperating with investigators since 2022 without fail, despite Somba residing in the USA.
The prosecution did not oppose their release on bail but urged stringent terms and conditions to make sure they appear in court for trial. They also urged the court to order Somba to deposit his passport in court.
In determination, the court noted that the prosecution did not oppose their release on bail, and also the accused has been consistently attending to investigators without fail.
“I have noted that the duo had been consistently attending to investigators since 2022 without fail, and also the prosecution did not oppose their release on bail,” the Magistrate noted.
He released them on a bond of Ksh 3 million with a surety of a similar amount each, with alternative cash bail of Ksh 500,000, with two contact persons.
The matter will be mentioned on April 9, 2026, for pre-trial and directions.
