A sugar importer was on Thursday charged with conspiring  to steal sh 20 million  condemned brown sugar intended to be used as raw material for distillation of Industrial Ethanol.

Yahye Elias Bare allegedly committed the offense on diverse dates between 9th December 2022 and 3rd May 2023 at unknown place within the Republic of Kenya.

The Sugar importer also faced a second count of stealing 20,064-50kg bags of condemned brown sugar  at Kings Commodities Limited godown in Makongeni area, Thika Township within Kiambu County which was the property of Kenya Revenue Authority.

According to the charge sheet, he allegedly stole the said sugar intended to be used  as a raw material for distillation of Industrial Ethanol jointly with others not before court on diverse dates between 21st April 2023 and 3 May 2023. The sugar is valued at  sh 20,064,000 .

The businessman was also accused of interfering with goods subject to customs control. The court heard that he  interfered with the  removal of 20,064-50kg bags of condemned brown sugar intended for use as a raw material for distillation of Industrial Ethanol sealed under KRA Customs Seals Numbers 0295454 and 0295457

He appeared  before Magistrate Dolphina Alego  and denied the charges.

The prosecution did not oppose his release on bail but informed the court that the matter was connected with another similar matter in court an asked the court for a mention date in order  to consolidate the matter.

His lawyer  asked the court to release his client on similar cash bail to the other accused person charged with similar counts.

The court released him on sh 400,000 shillings cash bail which was the same terms with the other accused persons. The case will be mentioned on January 10.