Gold syndicate suspects granted bail
Two suspects arrested in connection with an illicit gold industry syndicate in Nigel near Johannesburg have been granted bail of R50 000 each in the area's Magistrates Court today.
Clint Dixon and Leo Agbakwuru were arrested by the Hawks on Friday following an investigation by SARS’s Enforcement Division.
The revenue Service's Luther Lebelo says the syndicate allegedly fabricated invoices from 2011 to 2013 to reflect purchases of second-hand jewellery amounting to R50-million in order to claim VAT.
Lebelo says that would have cost SARS more than R5-million had they not picked up on the scam.
"We just want to send a message as the South African Revenue Services that we are not going to tolerate any fraudulent act of tax evasion. We are calling on the public to report any such activities that come within so that we curb this kid of scourge," he said.
The case has been postponed to next month for further investigation.
(File photo: Gallo Images)