A group of nine suspects fingered in the alleged defrauding of the South African Revenue Services (Sars) of millions of rands in imported consignments on the Free State and Lesotho border posts, have been granted bail. The suspects, former and current workers of Sars, were granted bail on their first appearance in the Ficksburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 10 June.
They are, Boitshoko Perseverance Mashodi (38), Elvin Wilson (40), Phakama Ndothayisa (36), Xatyiswa Zona (42), Selvin Derison (36), Motlalepule Tes Modise (38), Siphiwe Sedibeng (36), Lwazi Simelani (35), and Nomvakaliso Modolomba (33).
Col. Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the court granted bail ranging from R1 500 and R5 000, with conditions that include the suspects must reappear in court on 15 July.
The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation detectives pounced on the suspects after the completion of probing into the alleged defrauding of Sars of a large amount of monies in imported consignments. They were arrested during an operation conducted on Thursday, 6 June, and Friday.
Mohobeleli said the suspects were arrested in Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, and the Eastern Cape.
“They are facing charges of fraud, money laundering, contravention of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011, contravention of the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964, and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998. The Hawks, working together with the Anti-corruption Investigation unit of Sars, presented a watertight case before the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), resulting in the arrests of the suspects,” he said.
Mohobeleli said probing revealed the suspects allegedly orchestrated the fraud at the border posts of the Ficksburg Bridge, Maseru Bridge, and Vanrooyenshek Bridge.
“They allegedly facilitated 333 transactions, which amounts to R653 500 455.28. All identified transactions were imported consignments or cargo (textile) in bond (Removal in Bond) from the Durban port of entry to be exported from the Free State border post of Maseru Bridge.”
