SARS welcomes 10-year sentence for Oakbay fraudster
South
African Revenue Service commissioner Edward Kieswetter has welcomed a 10-year
prison sentence handed to Oakbay Trading director, DP Naik.
Naik was convicted on charges of fraud and for contravening the Customs and Excise Act after he falsified export documents and diverted cigarettes back into the South African market without paying the excise and duties.
Kieswetter commended the investigating team and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for securing a conviction and sentencing.
“SARS has repeatedly stated that the organisation will make it hard and costly for taxpayers and traders who wilfully break the law and undermine the SARS mandate of collecting revenue.
“We are committed to helping those taxpayers and traders who seek to comply voluntarily with their legal obligations. Several digital channels have been created over the years to make it easy and simple for such taxpayers to comply,” said Kieswetter
Naik was convicted on five counts of fraud and according to evidence presented in the Johannesburg Regional Court, the total prejudice to SARS was R18 million.
“This conviction and sentencing should send a clear signal that SARS has a zero tolerance for such criminal behaviour and will use all avenues at its disposal to pursue these criminals,” added Kieswetter
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