Kibaki-era assistant minister Stephen Tarus held in Uganda prison over gold smuggling claims
Ugandan officials have detained Stephen Tarus, the former Assistant Minister for Internal Security in Kenya, on accusations of illicitly bringing 13 kilograms of gold into Uganda through the use of counterfeit documents.
According to calculateme.com, Sh134 million ($845,821) is the equivalent value for thirteen kilograms of gold.
As per media accounts, Tarus was taken into custody the previous week and presented before a Ugandan court focused on combating corruption this Wednesday.
Mr. Tarus has been detained at Luzira prison until January 18 while investigations are underway regarding his alleged participation in a gold smuggling network connected to Kampala, as well as the fabrication of export documents associated with it.
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He is anticipated to respond to accusations related to the smuggling of gold, fraudulent activities, and the falsification of documents from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). These documents include a receipt asserting payment of $30,000 in Kampala for the transportation of the gold.
The individual, aged 57, held the position of assistant minister during the tenure of the late President Mwai Kibaki. Additionally, he served as Kenya’s high commissioner to Australia from 2009 to 2012 and represented the Emgwen constituency as a Member of Parliament from 2003 to 2007.
Smaller flows from Kenya
As indicated in findings from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, Uganda serves as a central point for the illegal transportation of gold from nearby nations, primarily the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and to a lesser extent, Kenya.
“Once the smuggled gold arrives in Uganda, traders claim it is of Ugandan origin, supported by fraudulent documentation that is difficult for the authorities to disprove,” the report says.
It states that Uganda presents a favorable environment for the illegal gold trade, given the convenient movement and trading opportunities arising from insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.
Gold from Uganda is transported to global markets, and a 2017 United Nations Group of Experts report designates the country as a significant pathway for illicit gold to reach the United Arab Emirates.
Kibaki-era assistant minister Stephen Tarus held in Uganda prison over gold smuggling claims