KEY POINTS
- A bookkeeper was sentenced to 12 years for defrauding SARS of R9 million ($489,843).
- The fraud involved 181 counts of fraud and 38 counts of money laundering.
- Authorities are working to recover financial losses from the scheme.
A 35-year-old bookkeeper, Jessica Marieka Janse Van Niewenhuys, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of defrauding the South African Revenue Service (SARS) of more than R9 million ($489,843).
The Free State Division of the High Court in Bloemfontein handed down the sentence on Friday, following an extensive investigation by the Hawks’ serious commercial crime unit.
Janse Van Niewenhuys and her husband, Petrus Janse Van Niewenhuys, were arrested in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, in May 2024.
However, the charges against her husband were later withdrawn.
Over 200 charges lead to conviction
Janse Van Niewenhuys was convicted on 181 counts of fraud and 38 counts of money laundering. The court also declared her unfit to possess a firearm.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti, her fraudulent activities spanned four years, from 2018 to 2022, while she worked in the Free State.
Moreover, Matoti revealed that she manipulated tax returns for four companies based in Parys, submitting false filings on their behalf.
She also submitted fraudulent returns for her husband, who was employed in various mining projects at the time.
Authorities welcome the conviction
Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, the head of the Hawks in the Free State, praised the conviction.
He also stated that the case highlights the importance of holding financial criminals accountable.
“This sentencing should serve as a warning to those who attempt to defraud the system,” Bokaba said.
According to IOL, she also confirmed that a process is underway to recover funds obtained through the fraudulent activities.
Authorities remain committed to tracking financial crimes and ensuring that justice prevails in cases of tax fraud and money laundering.
