Kenya’s Former Assistant Minister Detained in Uganda on Gold Smuggling Charges
Ugandan authorities have apprehended Stephen Tarus, Kenya’s former Assistant Minister for Internal Security, on charges related to the alleged smuggling of gold into Uganda using counterfeit documents.
Mr. Tarus, who was arrested last week, appeared before a Ugandan anti-corruption court on Wednesday to answer accusations of falsifying export documents, as revealed by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
The URA disclosed that the use of fraudulent trade documentation by Mr. Tarus resulted in substantial financial losses for the Ugandan government.
The charges specifically revolve around the forgery of export documents related to 13 kilograms of gold, with an estimated value of $30,000 (£24,000). The URA suspects that the gold was destined for Dubai as part of an illicit smuggling operation.
Pending further investigations into the matter, Mr. Tarus has been remanded at Luzira prison until January 18. As of now, he has not issued any statements regarding the allegations.
The 57-year-old politician, who previously served as an assistant minister under the late President Mwai Kibaki and held the position of Kenya’s high commissioner to Australia from 2009 to 2012, also had a stint as a Member of Parliament between 2003 and 2007.
The case has attracted attention not only due to Mr. Tarus’ distinguished political background but also because of the severity of the charges he faces in connection with the alleged gold smuggling operation.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by authorities in curbing cross-border illicit activities and highlights the need for increased vigilance in trade-related transactions to safeguard national interests. Investigations are ongoing, and further details are awaited as the case unfolds.
Source: AfricaNews
