Publications
- Two Gauteng businessmen appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on 35 charges of tax fraud.
- They are accused of defrauding SARS of R116.7 million.
- Their case will be back in court in March.
Two Gauteng businessmen appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on 35 counts of tax fraud.
Khothatso Isaac Moletsane, 48, and Tumelo Peter Moletsane, 54, were charged alongside their company, Mol Pro Consulting Pty Ltd, for defrauding SARS of about R116.7 million by under-declaring the company's trading activities.
The National Prosecuting Authority Free State spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said it was alleged that between December 2011 and May 2019, the two company directors submitted nil returns to SARS on behalf of their company.
It was alleged they did this by misrepresenting the company's trading activities.
Between February 2014 and September 2016, they also under-declared the company's VAT income, prejudiced SARS to the tune of about R34.5 million.
They submitted their claims through e-filing.
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"The company had, however, done business with the municipalities and government departments, and the money was deposited into the bank accounts of the company," said Shuping.
Between July 2017 and February 2019, they allegedly under-declared the trading activities of their company, prejudicing SARS of R7.7 million. In 2018, they allegedly declared zero returns when the company was believed to have traded and received R61.2 million. The tax due to SARS was R17 million.
In February 2019, they allegedly overstated the input tax and prejudiced SARS to R33.7 million. They allegedly under-declared their company's VAT income and income tax and overstated the tax returns submitted to SARS to evade paying VAT and company income tax.
"The total amount involved is R116.7 million, made up of R83 million actual prejudice and R33.7 million potential prejudice,” Shuping explained.
He said the case was postponed to 16 March 2023 for representations.
The two have been released on bail of R10 000 each.
