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SARS and NPA Crack Down on Fraud: Seven Suspects Arrested
In a significant breakthrough, seven out of nine suspects wanted for a massive fraud scheme involving millions of rands have been arrested by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation detectives. The suspects, comprising four females and three males, are current and former employees of the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
The arrests were made on June 6 and 7, 2024, in Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, and the Eastern Cape. The suspects will face charges of fraud, money laundering, and contravention of various tax and customs laws in the Ladybrand Magistrates Court on June 10, 2024.
According to SARS, five of the employees were found guilty and dismissed following a disciplinary process, while two resigned pending disciplinary action. One employee received a final written warning, and two others are still undergoing disciplinary proceedings.
The suspects allegedly facilitated 333 fraudulent transactions totaling R653,500,455.28 at various border posts, including Ficksburg Bridge, Maseru Bridge, and Vanrooyenshek Bridge. The transactions involved the illegal importation of textile consignments in bond from the Durban port of entry, intended for export from the Free State Border Post (Maseru Bridge).
The Hawks and SARS' Anti-corruption Investigation unit collaborated to build a solid case, which was presented to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The NPA welcomes the arrests, which are expected to serve as a strong deterrent to others involved in corruption and fraud. The search for the remaining two suspects is ongoing, and their arrest is imminent.
Source: SAPS
