Former SARS Employees Face R653 Million Fraud Charges
- Seven former SARS employees are expected to appear in the Ladybrand Magistrate's Court in the Free State
- The group is accused of fraud, money laundering and the contravention of the Tax Administration Act
- The suspects reportedly worked at the Ficksburg, Maseru and Vanrooyenshek Bridges, where they facilitated 333 transactions worth R653 500 455.28
Zingisa Chirwa is an experienced Briefly News journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who has covered crime and current affairs on the radio for over 15 years.
Source: UGC
Seven former SARS employees, accused of fraud worth over R653 million, are expected to appear in the Ladybrand Magistrate's Court in the Free State on 10 June 2024.
Ex-SARS employees arrested
The group was charged with fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Tax Administration Act.
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The Hawks, who arrested the suspects between 6 and 7 June 2024, said the seven were part of a list of nine wanted suspects. The alleged culprits reportedly worked at the Ficksburg, Maseru and Vanrooyenshek Bridges, where they facilitated 333 transactions worth R653 500 455.28.
According to a joint statement by the Hawks, SARS and the NPA, five of the alleged culprits were dismissed after a disciplinary process found them guilty, while two of the employees resigned:
“One employee who went through the same process was issued with a final written warning and the other two of the nine are currently undergoing the disciplinary process.”
It added that the arrest of two outstanding wanted suspects was imminent.
South Africans weigh in
Many social media users were amazed by the amount of money allegedly stolen.
@TieOnto wondered:
“They defrauded SARS of that much money and didn't expect to get caught?!”
@Bus1nessG3nius said:
“Our taxes.... people are greedy though.”
@lioneszT added:
“Understanding the mindset of a fraudster can be complex. Sometimes it's driven by greed, desperation or a sense of invincibility. They still underestimated drastic consequences and believed they could outsmart their employer SARS.”
@option_bad commented:
“They always say we owe SARS only for them to get caught for defrauding SARS, R600 million yonke aphi amahloni?”
@MsKabzela said:
“Long arm of the law… Corruption doesn't pay (most of the time).”
Bail granted to suspects in R53 million IDC fraud
Briefly News previously reported that the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court granted Palello Lebaka and Busisiwe Lebaka R5,000 bail each.
The couple was arrested for defrauding the Industrial Development Corporation of R53 million in 2018.
The Hawks told Briefly News that the pair would return before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 16 July 2024.
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Source: Briefly News
