Drama ensued at Weston Hotel, Nairobi, after a fugitive businesswoman, dodged police and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers who had targetted her for arrest.
Mary Wambui Mungai and Purity Njoki Mungai, directors of Purma Holdings and who are being sought over Ksh2.2 billion tax evasion court case, had booked rooms at the hotel located on the busy Lang'ata road.
The business lady is a close associate of Deputy President William Ruto, who owns the Weston Hotel, and she is commonly referred to as Wambui wa Ruto in political circles, People Daily reported.
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KRA enforcement officers who raided the hotel found their rooms vacated by the time they arrived to nab them.
"The two, Mary Wambui Mungai and Purity Njoki Mungai escaped from their hotel rooms a few minutes before the police and officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) arrived to arrest them.
"Upon searching the hotel premises, KRA officers and the police found personal belongings of the two including cash, bank cards, and car keys; a clear indication that the two were residing at the hotel," a statement by KRA enforcement officers reads.
Police have cordoned off the hotel as a search on the two continues.
A warrant of arrest was issued on the two on Wednesday, December 8, after the directors failed to appear in Anti-Corruption Court before Chief Magistrate, Hon. Felix Mutinda Kombo to answer eight (8) counts of knowingly and unlawfully omitting taxes due in the income tax returns submitted to the Commissioner for Domestic Taxes for the period between 2014-2016.
Through their lawyer Sylvanus Osoro, Ms Mungai had defended herself saying she was admitted to the hospital on November 29, hence her failure to honour summons.
The court was, however, not satisfied with the explanation since no medical records were produced to substantiate the claim.
The two had been summoned to avail themselves before KRA on December 3, to be told about charges facing them but they instead sent their accountant.
"Court agreed with the prosecution that the accused were buying time instead of confronting the charges which the court noted are of great public interest and grave," KRA added.
The case is scheduled for mention on December 14, or the earliest the accused will be arrested
