Ramaesela Martha Mphahlele, 43, was arrested on Thursday by the Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit as the second accused in an ongoing investigation into SARS fraud.
Background of the Case
Mphahlele’s arrest follows the incarceration of Daniel Maluleke, who appeared in the Vaalbank Magistrate’s Court last Friday. A bench warrant for Mphahlele’s arrest was issued after an investigation by the Hawks revealed her alleged involvement in fraudulent activities.
Mphahlele registered as a value-added tax (VAT) vendor with SARS and was also a registered practitioner on SARS’ e-filing services. It is alleged that she colluded with Maluleke to submit VAT returns using different VAT reference numbers. The information provided in these returns resulted in fraudulent refunds being generated.
Financial Details
A total of R293,958 from the fraudulent refunds was reportedly deposited into the bank accounts of both suspects. Mphahlele and Maluleke appeared before the Vaalbank Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where Maluleke was granted R5,000 bail, while Mphahlele was released with a warning.
Next Steps
The court case is set to resume in November, where further proceedings will determine the outcomes for both suspects involved in this significant fraud investigation.
