Nine sentenced to a cumulative 10 939 years

The sentencing of nine people for a cumulative of 10 939 years for committing various crimes including money laundering, fraud and forgery, has been welcomed by National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya.

The sentence was handed down at the South Gauteng High Court for 391 counts of money laundering, fraud, forgery, uttering, assisting another to benefit from unlawful activities and acquisition, possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activities.

They also contravened legislation in relation to birth and death registration, the Identification Act as well as the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

“It is reported that during 2009 and 2016, the accused were members of various entities registered in terms of the Close Corporations Act, No 69 of 1984 and/or the Companies Act, No 61 of 1973 and thus also registered their companies for Value Added Tax (VAT) in terms of the South African Revenue Services Act.

“A total of 23 cases were opened at the Johannesburg Central police station against the accused for investigation.  These cases were referred to the Gauteng-based Serious Corruption Investigation for in-depth probe,” the DPCI said on Thursday.

The accused, while acting in furtherance of a common purpose, submitted fraudulent VAT returns for and on behalf of the said close corporations and/or companies claiming undue VAT refunds from the South African Revenue Services (SARS).

“In support of their claim, the accused forged and uttered invoices to SARS. The undue VAT refund was then paid by SARS into various bank accounts of the said various entities, and were then transferred into various other accounts, which were under the control of the accused or withdrawn.

“The entities in question were not trading or conducting any business during the period they claimed the undue refund which is from 2009 to 2015 and did not incur any input expenses to warrant a refund from SARS therefore prejudicing SARS R300 million,” the DPCI said.

Initially, 13 people were charged in the case, however, two passed away during the course of the trial while the other two turned state witness.

The accused were sentenced as follows:

• Jeremiah Nyasha Musiwacho Dube (59), a Zimbabwean male, was sentenced to 3 376 years’ imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused should serve only 65 years having taken into consideration mitigating circumstances.
• Rebecca Dube (51), a South African female, was sentenced to 1 596 years’ imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused should serve only 25 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
• Mavudzi Maxwell Ndlovu (59), a Zimbabwean male, was sentenced to 3 272 years’ imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused should serve only 65 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
• Moliehi Constance Ramone (44), a Lesotho female, was sentenced to 953 years imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused should serve only 15 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
• Edward Shoniwa (56), a Zimbabwean male, was sentenced to 168 years imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused should serve only 15 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
• Zamaswazi Audrey Radebe (51), a South African female, was sentenced to 73 years imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused should serve only 5 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
• Bongani Mbonani (42), a South African male, was sentenced to 57 years imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused should serve only 5 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
• Sello Atlone Rathethe (52), a South African male, was sentenced to 1557 years imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused should serve only 15 years having considered mitigating circumstances.
• The last accused, Christopher Dube (56), a Zimbabwean male, absconded just before conviction and his warrant of arrest has been authorised by the court.

– SAnews.gov.za