WeeklySA_AdminSCAM: Racket involved submitting forged VAT returns on behalf of companies to claim millions from taxman…
By SAnews
Nine fraudsters who included three Zimbabwean men, have been convicted on several charges including fraud, forgery and money laundering, have been sentenced to a total of 10, 939 years in the South Gauteng High Court.
The sentences have been welcomed by National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya.
The nine were convicted on 391 counts of money laundering, fraud, forgery, uttering, assisting another to benefit from unlawful activities and acquisition, possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activities.
They also contravened legislation in relation to birth and death registration, the Identification Act as well as the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
The ninth accused, Christopher Dube (56), a Zimbabwean male, absconded just before they were convicted and a warrant for his arrest has since been authorised by the court.
The DPCI said during 2009 and 2016, the nine men and women were members of various entities registered in terms of the Close Corporations Act, No 69 of 1984 and/or the Companies Act, No 61 of 1973 and had also registered their companies for Value Added Tax (VAT) in terms of the South African Revenue Services Act.
“A total of 23 cases were opened at the Johannesburg Central police station against the accused for investigation. These cases were referred to the Gauteng-based Serious Corruption Investigation for in-depth probe.”
The accused, while acting in furtherance of a common purpose, submitted fraudulent VAT returns for and on behalf of the said close corporations and or companies claiming undue VAT refunds from the South African Revenue Services (SARS).
“In support of their claim, the accused forged and submitted invoices to SARS. The undue VAT refund was then paid by SARS into various bank accounts of the said various entities, and were then transferred into various other accounts, which were under the control of the accused or withdrawn.
“The entities in question were not trading or conducting any business during the period they claimed the undue refund which is from 2009 to 2015 and did not incur any input expenses to warrant a refund from SARS therefore prejudicing SARS R300 million,” the DPCI said.
Initially, 13 people were charged in the case. However, two passed away during the course of the trial while the other two turned State witnesses.
Jeremiah Nyasha Musiwacho Dube (59), a Zimbabwean male, was sentenced to 3 376 years’ imprisonment.
The court ordered that he should serve only 65 years having taken into consideration mitigating circumstances.
Rebecca Dube (51), a South African female, was sentenced to 1 596 years’ imprisonment. The court ordered that she should serve only 25 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
Mavudzi Maxwell Ndlovu (59), a Zimbabwean male, was sentenced to 3 272 years’ imprisonment. The court ordered that he should serve only 65 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
Moliehi Constance Ramone (44), a Lesotho national, was sentenced to 953 years imprisonment. The court ordered that she should serve only 15 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
Edward Shoniwa (56), a Zimbabwean male, was sentenced to 168 years imprisonment. The court ordered that he should serve only 15 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
Zamaswazi Audrey Radebe (51), a South African, was sentenced to 73 years imprisonment. The court ordered that she should serve only five years having considered mitigating circumstances.
Bongani Mbonani (42), a South African male, was sentenced to 57 years imprisonment. The court ordered that he should serve only five years having considered mitigating circumstances.
Sello Atlone Rathethe (52), a South African male, was sentenced to 1557 years imprisonment. The court ordered that he should serve only 15 years having considered mitigating circumstances. – Sanews.
