Dismissed and Resigned SARS Employees to Face Fraud, Money Laundering Charges in Ladybrand Magistrates Court
By Karabo Marifi
Ladybrand Magistrates Court is set to hear a R600 million fraud case involving current and former South African Revenue Service (SARS) employees, on Monday, 10 June 2024. This follows the arrest of seven suspects, apprehended by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation detectives on 6 and 7 June 2024. These seven individuals, which include four females and three males, were arrested in various provinces including Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, and the Eastern Cape.
Edge-Cutting Investigation Leads to Major Arrests
Hawks Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, confirmed that the suspects are accused of fraud, money laundering, and several contraventions of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011, the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964, and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998. The arrest of the remaining two suspects on the wanted list is said to be imminent.
Details of the Alleged Crime
According to Mohobeleli, the implicated employees were stationed at strategic border locations including Ficksburg Bridge, Maseru Bridge, and Vanrooyenshek Bridge. They reportedly facilitated 333 fraudulent transactions amounting to R653,500,455.28. These transactions involved imported consignments, specifically textiles, moved in bond from Durban’s port of entry to be exported via the Free State Border Post (Maseru Bridge).
SARS Takes Strict Action
SARS has confirmed that a rigorous internal disciplinary process has been followed for the implicated employees. Five of the employees were found guilty and subsequently dismissed, while two others resigned before the completion of their disciplinary proceedings. One employee received a final written warning, and the remaining two are still undergoing the disciplinary process.
A Collaborative Effort for Justice
Lieutenant Colonel Mohobeleli emphasised the collaborative efforts between the Hawks and the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit of SARS in presenting a robust case to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). He mentioned, “The NPA welcomes the arrests of the accused and it envisages that these arrests will send a clear message to other perpetrators of corruption and fraud-related offences.”
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