MPUMALANGA – Godfrey Thembikuhle Mgidi (36) and Christina Ncazane Mgidi (50) were found guilty and sentenced by the Witbank Magistrates Court on Monday, 22 April 2024 for Fraud and Contravening the provision of section 234 of the Tax Administration Act, Act 28 of 2011.
During January 2015, both accused were directors of a company called Morvest Pinnacle Solutions. The accused submitted fraudulent tax returns for tax credits to the South African Revenue Service, claiming undue funds through misrepresentation whereby payments were made to the company’s Standard Bank business account belonging to Siyophumelela Trading and Projects cc, prejudicing and causing an actual loss to the Revenue Service R 968 099.33.
The matter was reported to the Hawks’ Nelspruit based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for inquiry. The investigation was finalised and warrant of arrests were issued. Both accused were arrested and later released on bail. They appeared in court on several occasions until they were found guilty and sentenced.
The accused were sentenced as follows:
- Accused 1: Sentenced to R10 000 fine or 12 Months imprisonment and further 6 years imprisonment which is wholly suspended for a period of 5 years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of the same offence during the period of suspension.
- Accused 2: Sentenced to R50 000 fine which is wholly suspended for the period of 5 years on condition that the accused is not found guilty of the same offence during the period of suspension.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks Maj General Gerber welcomed the sentence of the duo. The General applauded the investigative team for their good work and sentence secured.He further send a stern warning to all members of the public to refrain from submitting fraudulent claims to SARS.
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=52760.