File picture: Ziphozonke Lushaba
AN ACCUSED, Shahein Anwar Hassen, 37, was found guilty of committing 29 counts of fraud and contravening the tax administration regulations by the Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.
The Hawks’ provincial spokesperson for the Northern Cape, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi, said on Wednesday that Hassen submitted 29 personal income tax returns and obtained undue pay as you earn (PAYE) tax credits in 2020.
“He submitted that he claimed tax credits relating to medical expenses, retirement annuity funds deduction and PAYE contributions using fictitious IRP5 certificates and fictitious medical aid certificates,” said Mnisi.
“The accused further submitted two false personal income tax returns for the period of 2021. This resulted in the South African Revenue Service suffering an actual prejudice amounting to R275,159.29 and a potential prejudice of R49,643.60.”
Mnisi said sentencing was scheduled to take place on April 12.