By Lwazi Raul
Two bogus company co-directors (father and daughter) and two beneficiaries were each granted R2000 bail by the Nelspruit Magistrates’ Court after being arrested by members of Mpumalanga Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit for fraud-related charges.
According to information at Hawks disposable it is alleged that in March 2018, Phillip Mutikobola Lukhele (64) and his daughter, Valencia Thembelihle Lukhele (38) unlawfully claimed undue funds by submitting false tax returns on behalf of an unregistered company, Mzithe Trading Cc. An amount of R 417 860 was paid into the ghost account Mzithe Trading Cc, prejudicing the South African Revenue Service (SARS) .
The paid funds were later transferred into the accused personal bank accounts and two other beneficiaries, Sibusiso Simon Mlambo (37) and Caswell Thokozani Shongwe (40).
The trio is facing charges of fraud, theft or alternatively contravening the provisions of the Tax Administration Act and money laundering in terms of contravening the Prevention of Organized Crime Act.
The matter has been postponed to 11 August 2021 for a special SARS prosecutor.
