A 44-year old South African Revenue Service (SARS) employee appeared before the Mdantsane Magistrates Court yesterday on charges of corruption.
Cheryl Mathews, a SARS assessor, was arrested yesterday in a joint operation between SARS criminal investigations unit and the South African Police Services (SAPS) for allegedly assisting a taxpayer claim a rebate in a fraudulent manner.
SARS issued a warning in July this year that it will clamp down heavily on people who fail to accurately and honestly reflect details on their tax return forms.
SARS will not hesitate to take action against people who are found to be responsible whether they are found from within or outside its ranks.
Mathews was released on R1000 bail and will appear again in court on 17 September 2004. She has been suspended from SARS with immediate effect.
For more information, please contact Sechaba Nkosi at 082 465 2901 or 012 422 5046.
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA