Sars official testifies against company linked to blue lights corruption case
The accused are facing charges of fraud and contravention of the Tax Administration Act, involving an estimated R19 million.
The high-profile South African Revenue Services (Sars) tax fraud trial involving businessman Vimpie Phineas Manthata, his company Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, and co-accused Judy Rose, resumed in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
The matter was postponed on Wednesday for further trial.
Blue lights corruption trial
The trial started on Monday, with the state leading its evidence in chief through a senior official from Sars.
The second witness from Sars took a stand prior to the adjournment and is expected back in court to be cross-examined by the defence attorney.
Charges
Manthata is facing charges of fraud and contravention of the Tax Administration Act, during the 2018/2019 tax assessment period, to which an amount of approximately R19 million is involved.
He is charged along with his company, Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement and Rose, who is employed as a bookkeeper in the company.
ALSO READ: Court dismisses application by 'blue lights' corruption accused to bar media coverage
Saps fraud
Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the accused are also facing corruption charges in a separate corruption case relating to an alleged irregular contract within the South African Police Service (Saps), valued at approximately R191 million.
A further payment of R22 million was stopped as a result of the investigation into the matter by the ID and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
'Manthata and Rose are out on R10 000 bail each,' Mamothame said.
Denel corruption
In a separate matter, two former Denel senior officials have been given time to study the docket before their next appearance in court for corruption
Former Denel Board of Directors Chairperson, Lungisani Daniel Mantsha, and his co-accused Zwelakhe Nhlanganiso Ntshepe, a former Group Chief Executive Officer, appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court last week.
Mamothame said the matter was postponed to 30 July 2025.
'The case was postponed for them to familiarise themselves with the contents of the docket and compare it to the docket disclosures provided by the state in a USB, to that of the original docket, prior to the start of the trial.
'Their R30 000 bail was extended and they are expected back in court when the matter resumes,' Mamothame said.
ALSO READ: Ex-Denel chairperson, former CEO to study docket of corruption
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