SARS official and an accomplice (posing as a SARS employee) have appeared in a Port Elizabeth court on 23 March 2010 for attempting to solicit a bribe from a Port Elizabeth couple for assistance with their tax problems.
The 43 year old SARS employee, Robert Fortuin and 36 year old accomplice, Tommy Sysaar, an employee at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality were arrested on Friday, 19 March 2010 and spent the long weekend in jail
The two were subsequently released on bail of R2000 each in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday, 23 March 2010.
Fortuin is suspected of contacting and offering assistance to the couple by e-mail and offered to make their tax problems disappear. However, the couple reported the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
During a sting operation closely monitored by SARS and SAPS the accused allegedly informed the taxpayers that it would cost them R80 000 in cash to have their tax problems solved and to never pay tax again. The 36 year old accomplice was arrested by the SAPS Commercial Crime Unit after receiving R20 000 bribe money in marked bills at the Mug & Bean Coffee Shop in the Green Acres shopping centre on 19 March 2010, as per arrangement with the couple.
Shortly after, the SARS official was arrested by the SAPS. The two suspects are due to appear in court on the 18 May 2010.
Issued by: South African Revenue Service
24 March 2010
Source: South African Revenue Service (http://www.sars.gov.za/)
