A couple from the Free State arrested in Gqeberha last year on charges of fraud and money laundering appeared in the Bloemfontein High Court on Friday.
Police Spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti says Jessica Janse van Niewenhuys, 35, and her husband Petrus, 36, faced 181 counts of fraud and 38 counts of money laundering.
He says that between 2018 and 2022, Jessica was responsible for the bookkeeping of four companies based in Parys. She submitted fraudulent returns on behalf of her husband, who was employed by a company doing projects at different mines at the time.
The Welkom Serious Commercial Crime Investigation arrested the couple on 27 May 2024 in Gqeberha.
Warrant Officer Matoti says SARS suffered a loss amounting to over R9 million.
He says Jessica was found guilty of fraud and contravention of the Tax Administration Act and sentenced to 12 years of direct imprisonment.
All charges against her husband were withdrawn.
