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MBOMBELA - Godfrey Sifiso Tony Lukhele (33), who was found guilty on 131 counts of fraud on July 29, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on August 5 in the Nelspruit Regional Court for defrauding the South African Revenue Services (SARS) of more than R3 million through the submission of false Value Added Tax (VAT) returns. Half of this sentence has been suspended on condition that he repays an amount of R1 million to SARS.

Starting in March 2013, Lukhele submitted false VAT claims for a period of three years. He was initially arrested following a Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime investigation. After being granted bail of of R70 000, he failed to reappear on the set date, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was subsequently apprehended on July 9.

Lukhele was also found guilty in another case of fraud in which he sold a house on behalf of the owner and pocketed an amount of R52 863.24. For this crime, he received a five-year sentence, wholly suspended on condition that he repays the said amount to the complainant.

Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Subeditor: Lynette Brink
Submitted by: Capt Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi