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After eight years on the run, a former SARS official convicted of VAT fraud was finally arrested along with a financial adviser.
(Photo by Gallo Images / Jacques Stander)
- A former SARS employee has been arrested after eight years on the run.
- He was convicted of VAT fraud and corruption 17 years ago, but did not report to prison services to begin his term.
- The defendant was involved in a fraudulent VAT claim filed by a Klerksdorp company.
After eight years on the run, a former South African Tax Service (SARS) official convicted of VAT fraud was finally arrested along with a financial adviser.
In July 2004, Rudi Willemse and two financial advisers, Hein Fourie and Abraham van Wyk, were sentenced at the Klerksdorp Magistrates Court to seven effective years in prison for fraud and corruption.
“The matter involved a refund for a false input VAT claim worth R2.7 million, filed on behalf of an entity called Elandslaagte Mining in Klerksdorp. The claim was filed for the alleged purchase of mining equipment that never took place , and SARS officials were bribed to approve the refund, “said SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter.
READ | SARS Official Arrested for Alleged Corruption and Extortion in Bloemfontein
Willemse, Fourie and Van Wyk were granted permission to appeal their convictions. After several years of the appeal process, the appeal was denied and the three defendants were instructed to report to the prison authorities to begin their sentence. However, the three did not appear and arrest warrants were issued.
Van Wyk later died.
Last month, Willemse and Fourie were tracked down by the Klerksdorp Police Tracking Unit and arrested, Kieswetter said.
“[SARS] welcomes the arrest of two convicted VAT fraudsters who believed they had escaped justice by disappearing from the face of the earth for eight years, Kieswetter said.
“SARS is determined to ensure that the actions of our staff are irreproachable and will combat any criminal action by SARS employees and citizens who attempt to defraud the treasury of much-needed revenue. The South African public places great trust in SARS employees to perform his work diligently and loyally, and Mr. Willemse’s action betrays that trust.
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