BUSINESSMEN CHETTY AND CO-ACCUSED IN R13.9MILLION SARS FRAUD CASE POSTPONED
The R13.9 million fraud case involving businessmen, Kishene Chetty, Harry Milanzi, and Ravin Ramlall has been postponed for closing arguments in their bail application, which was heard yesterday.
Appearing before Magistrate Chokoe in Court 62 at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria in the District of Tshwane Central, the accused face charges of fraud and tax evasion to the tune of almost R14 million. SARS suffered alleged prejudice because of the unlawful and alleged intentional acts of the three natural and one juristic person. The state alleges that the offences were committed during the periods 2015 to 2021.
In one of the affidavits presented by Advocate Tilas Chabalala, the state refuted the accusations of abuse of power and told the court that the prosecution was instituted after complying with the prescripts of the law. In the affidavit deposed to by Sergeant Suneel Bellochun, the state argued that Chetty instigated counter-investigations against the prosecution and investigations team because he once had a very tight grip on the SAPS supply chain system and could allegedly manipulate some rogue members of the SAPS. Bellochun stated that Chetty has realised that the proverbial chickens are now coming home to roost and so he is accusing the team of abuse of power because he does not want to account for his deeds.
Kishene Chetty(38), Milanzi Harry Milanzi (43 ) who was on paper the sole Director of Isimbali Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd, and Ravin Ramlall, are facing 18 counts of fraud, one count of misrepresenting the broad-based black economic empowerment status of an enterprise and five counts of tax evasion.
SARS suffered alleged actual prejudice for almost R14 million because of the crimes committed during the 2015 to 2021 periods of assessment. Isimbali Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd, was registered and incorporated in 2012 and Harry Milanzi was listed as the sole director of the company. The state alleged that Kishene Chetty was the only one who had the authority to transact on the account of Isimbali Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd. They are accused of making misrepresentations in the tax returns of Isimbali resulting in actual financial prejudice amounting to R9.5 million being suffered by SARS.
They also failed to declare Value-Added Tax (VAT) levied on the amounts charged to the SAPS to SARS. The VAT collected from the SAPS but not paid to SARS was R4,4 million. SARS suffered a total financial loss in the amount of R13,9 million. Ravin Ramlall who is a relative of Kishene Chetty acted in concert with Kishene Chetty, Harry Milanzi, and a tax practitioner whose name cannot be mentioned.
The matter returns to court 31 March 2023 for continuation of the bail hearing.
