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Media Statement MPUMALANGA – A 43-year-old suspect was arrested as additional accused by the Nelspruit based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on Friday, 22 November 2024 for fraud, contravention of Section 235 (1)(a) of Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 and contravention of Section 4,5 and 6 read with Section 1,7, and 8 of Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998. The suspect was charged and detained, pending his first court appearance at Nelspruit Magistrates Court on Monday, 25 November 2024. The arrest follows after the suspect through his bookkeeper Tommy Masango (main accused in this matter) unlawfully and intentionally defrauded South African Revenue Services by submitting false Personal Tax Return to SARS well knowingly that the documents he submitted was fictitious or fraudulent with the intentions to misrepresent SARS to pay undue refunds to them in the contravention of Section 235 (1)(a) of the Tax Administration Act, Act 28 of 2011. SARS suffered prejudice to the value of R776 453.00 as combined with that of other accused. The return was for the years 2014, 2015, and 2016 financial years. The case emanates from investigations conducted by SARS for personal income tax whereby the main perpetrator (bookkeeper) submitted personal income tax on behalf of 11 other persons. They submitted false documents in the form of medical invoices and false documents purporting to be bank proof of payments to substantiate the false claim to declare false information on the tax return. They stood to receive undue refunds. Due to their actions and that of their bookkeeper, SARS suffered prejudice to the value of R779 617-63.
The case was transferred to the Hawks for further investigation. Investigation was finalised and warrants of arrest were authorised and executed on seven suspects on 15 October 2024. The suspects were arrested and charged accordingly. They appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrates Court on the same day, and they were released on R3 000-00 bail each. Matter was postponed to 26 November 2024.
Enquiries:
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