Latest news with #Contravention
The Citizen
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Company found guilty of illicit cigarette trade fined R600K
The company was given three months to comply with the court judgment. A company found guilty of dealing in counterfeit cigarettes has been ordered by the Evander Regional Court to purchase furniture for local schools as part of its sentence. Uptown Superstore was fined R600 000 and must buy 504 durable, quality double-seater desks for four schools in the Highveld Ridge Circuit. The company has three months to comply with the court judgment. Individual charges against three accused persons were withdrawn, but the business entity faced the full weight of the law. Individual charges withdrawn, company sentenced Three individuals originally faced charges in their personal capacity. Riaz Moolla, 42, Fatima Moolla, 62, and Suliman Ismail Moolla, 67, had their cases withdrawn from the Evander Regional Court. However, their company, Uptown Superstore, was not spared. The business was convicted on multiple charges. 'The company was sentenced for Contravention of the Tobacco Products Act, Contravention of Customs and Excise Act, and Contravention of Value Added Tax Act,' stated police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi. Illicit cigarettes seizure and arrests The case stems from a major seizure of illicit tobacco products. Authorities confiscated 4 710 packets of counterfeit cigarettes valued at R107 700 from the business premises. The first arrest occurred in September 2024. 'During the seizure on 9 September 2024, 42-year-old Riaz Moolla was arrested by the Hawks Secunda based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation after the warrant of arrest against him was issued by the court,' Nkosi explained. Riaz was released on bail following his arrest. The investigation continued, leading to additional warrants. ALSO READ: Vodacom scores ConCourt win over Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate Additional arrests and court proceedings Further arrests followed nearly a year later. On 17 July 2025, warrants were executed against the remaining two accused persons. According to Nkosic, both Fatima and Suliman were arrested and warned to appear in court. All three accused appeared before the court on 29 July 2025 for trial. 'The company director, Suliman, entered into a plea agreement, and the matter was rolled over to Wednesday, 30 July 2025,' Nkosi stated. Community benefit sentence The court's sentencing reflected a community-focused approach to justice. While the R600 000 fine addressed the financial penalty, the furniture requirement ensures direct community benefit. The 504 double-seater desks will be distributed among four unnamed schools in the Highveld Ridge Circuit High Schools. ALSO READ: Municipality granted time to challenge R700k employee payout order 'Interesting sentencing' Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Nico Gerber commended the collaborative effort that led to the conviction. 'It is an interesting sentence. Criminals are again out of pocket due to their crimes. The community is benefiting from this sentence, and it will definitely assist the next generation in their needs for a better education,' Gerber stated. Gerber highlighted the teamwork involved in securing the conviction. He praised the investigation team, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the judiciary for their combined efforts in bringing the case to a successful conclusion. NOW READ: Cop and prosecutor get bail in R1.6 million extortion case
The Citizen
31-07-2025
- The Citizen
Solly's Supermarket gets fine for selling illegal cigarettes
The illicit cigarette case against the owner of Solly's Supermarket, Suliman Ismail Moolla (67), his wife Fatima Moolla (62) and son Riaz Moolla (42) in their personal capacity was withdrawn in the Evander Regional Court yesterday [July 30]. However, their business was fined with R600 000 and ordered to provide community support by buying 504 durable quality two-seater desks for several schools. A total of 4 710 packets of counterfeit cigarettes with a value of more than R100 000 were seized from the business in September last year. The charge against the business is Contravention of the Tobacco Products Act, Contravention of Customs and Excise Act, and Contravention of Value Added Tax Act. The Hawks arrested Riaz Moolla on September 9 last year and he was released on bail after his court appearance. However, on July 17, another warrant of arrest was issued by the court and Fatima and Suliman were also arrested and warned to appear in court alongside Riaz on July 29 for trail. Suliman, who is the director of the business, known to the community as Solly's Supermarket, but trading as Uptown Superstore Store, entered into a plea agreement with the state and the matter was postponed to July 30 (yesterday). The schools that will benefit from this court order include Chief Ampie Mayisa Secondary School, Sizwakele Secondary School, Thomas Nhlabathi Secondary School, Vukuqhakaze Secondary Shool, Kiriyatswane Secondary School, KI Thwala Secondary School and Kusasalethu Secondary School. The court gave the business three months to comply with this order. The Mpumalanga head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Major-General Nico Gerber, commended the investigation team, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the judiciary for their hard work. Gerber said: 'It is an interesting sentence. Criminals are out of pocket again because of their crimes. The community is benefitting from this sentence, and it will definitely help the next generation in their needs for a better education.'
The South African
31-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Counterfeit cigarettes trader ordered to give back after Hawks bust
A Mpumalanga company, Uptown Superstore, has been found guilty of dealing in counterfeit cigarettes. The owners, Riaz Moolla (42), Fatima Moolla (62) and Suliman Ismail Moolla (67), were initially charged in their personal capacity. The individual cases against the trio were later withdrawn and they were charged as a company. However this decision comes with conditions that Uptown has to comply with, within the next three months. 'Uptown Superstore Store was fined R600 000, on condition that the company also contribute to the community by purchasing 504 durable quality double seater desks for four schools,' said the Mpumalanga Hawks. 'The total of 4710 packets of illicit cigarettes valued at R107 700 were seized from their business,' the Hawks continued. According to the Hawks, Riaz Moolla was arrested on 09 September 2024 for selling counterfeit cigarettes. He was later released on bail. On 17 July 2025, another warrant of arrest against Fatima and Suliman was executed. They all appeared in court for day one of trial on 29 July 2025. 'The company director Suliman entered into a plea agreement,' said the Hawks. The company was sentenced for Contravention of the Tobacco Products Act, Contravention of Customs and Excise Act and Contravention of Value Added Tax Act. The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, congratulated the investigation team for the outcome. 'It is an interesting sentence. Criminals are again out of pocket due to their crimes. The community is benefiting from this sentence, and it will definitely assist the next generation in their needs for a better education,' Gerber concluded. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
