MAN SENTENCED TO PAY A FINE OF R1 MILLION OR SERVE FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR ILLICIT CIGARETTES
The Giyani Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has convicted and sentenced a Zimbabwean national, Tauzeni Piason (49), to pay a fine of R1 million or to serve five years imprisonment for possession of Illicit cigarettes and further sentenced him to pay a fine of R5000.00 or six months imprisonment for illegal immigration. On 03 December 2023, at N1 road near Nzhelele dam, the police officers were patrolling when they spotted a white Toyota Quantum. They then stopped and searched it, and found it fully loaded with 91 master boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes valued at over R2 million.
In aggravation of the sentence, state advocate Sewela Mphasha, submitted to the court that this offence is serious as it affects the economy of South Africa. Reports were released and they showed that the country lost billions of rands because of the Illicit cigarettes. She further submitted that these cigarettes are not declared at the border post and no duties are paid. She concluded by saying that the accused has been in South Africa illegally and this shows that he undermines the law and regulations of the country.
The NPA welcomes the sentence, the Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Ivy Thenga condemns the behaviour of the accused and hopes that the sentence will serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders of these type of crimes. The DPP further commended the good work done by Adv. Mphasha of the Tax Unit and investigating officer, Sergeant Mpapele of the Makhado Detective Unit.
