NPA disputes Dave King's letter
2011-07-20 20:22
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Johannesburg - The NPA on Tuesday disputed claims made by businessman Dave King against its asset forfeiture unit head, Willie Hofmeyr.
"His letter does not correctly record the facts and it is false and misleading in numerous respects," National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said in response to an open letter by King to Hofmeyr.
NPA head Menzi Simelane has referred a corruption complaint from King regarding Hofmeyr to the police for investigation.
A Sunday Times report on it quoted two sources as saying it was part of an attempt to shut the AFU down.
In the letter, among King's complaints, were allegations that the NPA offered him the option of paying a fine of R200m and not go to jail for tax irregularity charges, or of paying no fine but pleading guilty to fraud.
Mhaga said the terms of any discussions between King and the tax authorities were protected by a court interdict, which King was allegedly violating by discussing them in public.
This would be referred to the "appropriate authorities".
'Glib'
He said King was identified as "N" when he testified at tax xourt and the commissioner and assessors hearing the case called him a "glib and shameless liar".
Mhaga said they could not comment on the content of the plea and sentence negotiations with King, but would say that decisions were not taken by Hofmeyr alone, but by the NPA executive committee.
Finally, King's statement that he would have no penalty if he committed fraud but would pay a severe penalty if he did not, is wrong, Mhaga said.
"As he knows many of the charges he faced provide for a minimum period of imprisonment of 15 years."
Following the Sunday Times report, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe would meet Hofmeyr and Simelane to get to the bottom of apparent tensions between them.
Hofmeyr was also accused of allegedly violating tender procedures for office refurbishment.
He has welcomed an independent investigation into the allegations, and did not mind if the police investigated him.
- SAPA
