Wendy MachanikTax issues delay plea bargain

Former property mogul Wendy Machanik’s plea bargain hearing was postponed again yesterday after new allegations relating to tax issues surfaced. State prosecutor Adele Carstens told the court that the allegations related to the SA Revenue Services (Sars) and a docket was opened. Sars is handling the matter separately. The plea bargain hearing will begin on May 31. Machanik is expected to pay a fine or swop information for a lighter sentence. Machanik and Bruce Bernstein, the former chief financial officer of Wendy Machanik Properties, were arrested last year on fraud charges. – Asha Speckman