High Court lifts freeze on SportPesa’s bank accounts

SportPesa can now access its bank accounts after the High Court lifted orders barring the gaming firm from dealing in the cash deposits over a Sh14.3 billion tax claim by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Justice David Majanja on November 13 gave Pevans East Africa, the company behind the SportPesa brand, control of its bank accounts that had been frozen since August 20.

“The preservation order issued on September 11, 2020 and extended on October 5, 2020 be and is hereby discharged,” the judge ordered.

“That this matter be and is hereby stayed pending the hearing and determination of Milimani High Court Misc. Application No. 045 of 2020 or until further orders of the court.”

The taxman on August 20 issued preservation notices to Pevans’ bankers, invoking the Tax Procedures Act (TPA) that allows it to make such a move if it believes tax collection is being frustrated.

The taxman said the freeze, which also affected SportPesa’s pay-bill and till numbers, was prompted by a tax evasion investigations. The KRA obtained an extension of the preservation orders on September 11 for 21 days. The orders were once again extended on October 5 for another 60 days.

Via  businessdailyafrica.com