| 2024/05/22 |
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Media Statement EASTERN CAPE – The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Obed Ngwenya, lauded the Gqeberha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks in partnership with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in ensuring that the fifth additional accused Francis Ofori-Danso (40) a consulting Accountant at Three Architects PTY, LTD appeared before the Gqeberha New Law Court on 22 May 2024 facing allegations of fraud. Ofori-Danso was arrested by the Hawks on the same day of his court appearance. His co-accused Bandile Brian Boyana (50), Nathaniel Kofi Kwei-Smith (46) the directors, Aubrey Mokgobi Moeng (44), Telela Stella Nqeto (45) consultant Accountant at Three Architects PTY, LTD were arrested in March 2024 and 2 May 2024 respectively. They were later released on R5000 bail each excluding Nqeto who was released on R2000, therefore, Boyana had to pay a total of R10 000 bail, in respect of the company. It is alleged that during the period between November 2015 and July 2021, Ofori-Danso and other accused intentionally submitted fraudulent Value Added Tax (VAT) 201 returns to SARS on behalf of their business entity. Subsequent to that, SARS conducted its internal assessment and picked up discrepancies in the returns submitted for the financial years in question. However, the reports indicated that some of the returns were repudiated by SARS and some were paid to the accused. The matter was reported to the Gqeberha SCCI of the Hawks for intensive investigation. The Hawks investigation revealed that SARS suffered an actually loss of over R3 million and a potential prejudice of an amount of over R8.2 million was nearly suffered in refund to their business entity. He was ultimately arrested by the investigating team of the Hawks on 22 May 2024 and he made his first court appearance before Gqeberha New Law court. Ofori-Danso was thus released on R2 000 bail. The matter was then remanded to 29 July 2024 for it to be transferred to Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes court and join his co-accused. Ends
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