A former SARS employee at the Germiston Branch was yesterday sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for embezzling R200 000 over a period of three years.
Annemarie van Schalkwyk, who worked as a cashier, was jailed by the Germiston Magistrates Court after the court found her guilty of misappropriating the money at the Cash Office.
Van Schalkwyk's conviction results from months of investigations by the SARS' anti-corruption unit and the police; that started more than a year ago and her resignation during the time.
Despite her repeated attempts to have the money paid back to SARS, the magistrate said SARS had an obligation to the taxpayer and should therefore not tolerate any form of corruption from within its ranks.
The sentencing sends a clear message that SARS will never hesitate to use any means to defend its integrity and the confidence that the public has entrusted on it as a government institution.
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA