Businesswoman gets seven years for VAT fraud
A KZN businesswoman has been sentenced to seven years in jail for defrauding the SARS of nearly R4m. Saraspathie Vallee (47) – the sole owner Gutterpride Trading – pleaded guilty to VAT fraud and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. She was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by the Durban Regional Court, notes TimesLIVE.
‘Using SARS’ e-filing service, she claimed a VAT refund to the value of R3 972 814 on behalf of Gutterpride for a single tax period in 2014.
SARS was supplied with falsified supporting documents to substantiate the claim. SARS reduced the refund and after outstanding taxes were liquidated, an amount of R2 484 683.75 was refunded to the entity,’ SARS said in a statement.
Within a few days of the refund being paid into Vallee's business account, she made numerous transfers from the account.
She pleaded guilty to two charges in terms of section 112(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedures Act. Her company was ordered to pay a R100 000 fine, which was suspended for five years.
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