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The Hawks are continuing the search for a businessman wanted in a R20 million SARS fraud case registered seven years ago.
Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, identified the suspect as 59-year-old, Augusto Manuel Carrera De Oliveira, the Director of Casino PTY LTD, the entity which is also charged in the matter.
He said this week, they “secured the court appearance” of another wanted suspect in the matter, 38-year-old Dunston Haddon, who appeared in court on Tuesday.
“This is a significant breakthrough, in a case that was registered at Johannesburg central police station by the South African Revenue Services (SARS) in December 2017.
“It was in respect of multiple counts of fraud and contravention of the Tax Administration Act.
“SARS lost an amount estimated at over R20 million over the affected period from 2012 October 01 to 2014 October 2014,” Captain Ramovha said.
He said the company, Casino Importers and Exporters, allegedly submitted fraudulent VAT 201 returns to SARS, supported by fake invoices.
The refunded money was then “laundered” through numerous accounts.
He said Haddon and the entity face 138 counts that include fraud, forgery, uttering and money laundering.
He was granted bail of R30 000-00 bail, and the matter was postponed to 28 November, pending further investigation and the tracing of De Oliviera, for whom an arrest warrant was issued back in 2021.
