DURBAN- Ivan Pillay, Johann van Loggerenberg and Andries Janse van Rensburg, the three ex-South African Revenue Service (SARS) executives who allegedly played a role in the so-called “rogue unit” will be writing to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for an opportunity to make representations, their legal representative said on Friday.
The three were on Friday issued a summons to appear in Pretoria Regional Court on April 9 for charges of corruption and contravention of the Rica Act.
Their attorney who is representing all three of them, Bernard Hotz of Werksmans Attorneys said, “Pillay, Van Loggerenberg and Janse van Rensburg emphatically deny the allegations against them and will rely on the integrity of the judicial process, which they are confident will vindicate them.”
The independent investigative unit the Hawks has been investigating the SARS High Risk Investigation Unit, as well as former SARS commissioner Pravin Gordhan, the allegations are they played a role in illegal interceptions and spying.
The investigations have been perceived as an attempt to discredit the accused and used as a political tool against Gordhan.
Hotz said the charges against his clients are in relation to investigations/documentary reviews that were conducted by KPMG on the instruction of SARS since 2014.
He said, “As the outset, it must be noted that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had charged Mr Pillay in October 2016 on aspects from the same KPMG report. The NPA was later compelled to withdraw these charges as important exculpatory evidence – that was either withheld, hidden or not considered – was publicly disclosed, when the NPA’s decision to prosecute Pillay and others, including Minister Pravin Gordhan, was challenged by Freedom Under Law.”
Photo Credit-SARS
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