Latest news with #TaxAdministrationAct
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
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
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Trial resumes: High-profile tax fraud case tied to SAPS corruption scandal
SARS officials take the stand in the R19 million tax fraud trial linked to the SAPS 'blue lights' case. Image: Ziphozonke Lushaba / Independent Newspapers The Palm Ridge Magistrates' Court has adjourned the high-profile tax fraud trial involving Vimpie Phineas Manthata, his company Instrumentation for Traffic Law Enforcement, and a co-accused, Judy Rose, to Thursday. The case, which is closely watched due to its links to the infamous 'blue lights' SAPS corruption scandal, resumed this week with explosive testimony from officials of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Manthata and Rose are facing charges of fraud and contravention of the Tax Administration Act, stemming from alleged irregularities during the 2018/2019 tax assessment period involving an estimated R19 million. Rose, employed as a bookkeeper at the company, is accused of being a direct accomplice. According to the Investigating Directorate's spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, the state opened its case on Monday with testimony from a senior SARS official. 'The second witness from SARS took the stand prior to the adjournment and is expected back in court to be cross-examined by the defence attorney,' said Mamothame. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ In addition to the tax-related charges, the accused are also implicated in a separate corruption case involving an alleged irregular R191 million contracts awarded by the South African Police Service. Mamothame confirmed that both Manthata and Rose are currently out on R10 000 bail each. 'The court warned them to be back when the trial resumes,' he added. The trial continues Thursday, where further cross-examinations and state witnesses are expected to shed more light on both the financial misconduct and its connection to the broader SAPS corruption saga. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
14-05-2025
- IOL News
Eastern Cape doctor fined R500 000 for defrauding SARS R1. 8 million in tax invasion
Dr Kurunalingam Chetty was sentenced in the East London Regional Court for under-declaring income between 2015 and 2018. Kurunalingam Chetty, a 54-year-old medical doctor from East London, was sentenced by the East London Regional Court for contravening the Tax Administration Act and ordered to pay R500,000 for defrauding SARS R1.8 million. Chetty, who was sentenced on Tuesday, was ordered to pay a R500,000 fine and handed a 10-year prison sentence, wholly suspended for five years, on the condition that he is not convicted of fraud, theft, or tax evasion during that period. If he fails to pay the fine, he will serve five years in prison. Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said Chetty's sentencing followed his arrest in 2023 by the collaboration efforts of the East London Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, South African Revenue Services (SARS) and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). 'During the period between 2015 and 2018, Chetty intentionally and unlawfully under-disclosed his income to SARS.' 'SARS picked up discrepancies and thus lodged a complaint with the Hawks for an investigation.' Mhlakuvana said investigations confirmed that SARS was actually prejudiced cash of more than R1.8 million. Chetty was arrested in 2023, appeared in court on the same day of his arrest, where he was granted R10 000 bail. He made numerous court appearances until his sentencing by the East London Regional Court on 13 May 13, 2025. Mhlakuvana said in addition to the suspended sentence, the court ordered him to pay R500,000. 'Moreover, Chetty was further sentenced to pay a fine of R500,000 and in default of payment, he would undergo five years imprisonment.' He was also ordered to immediately pay R50 000, of which the remaining R450 000 was deferred over the period of 18 months in instalments of R25 000. IOL News
