Commission probing duo

THE Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) is clamping down on corrupt officers who go beyond and outside their duties, collude with taxpayers and produce fraudulent documents.
IRC commissioner general Sam Koim said yesterday that the IRC initiated prosecution against owners of a local construction and real estate company for the possession and false declaration of a fraudulent certificate of compliance (COC).
Koim said officers and tax payers involved in dubious conduct would be investigated and face penalties through fines and imprisonment under the relevant tax laws.
But the company owner, when contacted yesterday, was surprised claiming he was not contacted by the IRC.
He said he would work with IRC to clear himself of the charges.
It was alleged that in August, the offenders and persons associated with the company presented to the National Procurement Commission, an allegedly fraudulent document causing the IRC to verify whether the purported COC was genuine.
“IRC confirmed that the COC was fraudulent hence commenced the proceedings,” Koim said.
“If the courts find the duo guilty, they could end up paying a fine of up to K50,000, an imprisonment term of 12 months or both.”