Johannesburg -
Recent resignations and suspensions at the SA Revenue Service could hamper a number of its high profile tax investigations, Beeld reported on Wednesday.
The Afrikaans daily reported it had a list of investigations a special intelligence unit was conducting, including into Czech businessman and attempted murder suspect Radovan Krejcir, before newly appointed commissioner Tom Moyane suspended the unit.
The investigations included “Project Zanadu”, a probe into the operations of the Mpisi group that reportedly had business ties with President Jacob Zuma's nephew Khulubuse.
“Project Knight Rider” was investigating the assets and business partners of Krejcir, and “Project Prince” the activities of one Sam Hamade from Glen Erasmia, Kempton Park, who claims to be an “honorary colonel” and Libyan prince.
“Project Goldfinger” was probing Krejcir's and Hamade's alleged involvement with gold smelters. Other, ad hoc, projects investigated illicit tobacco and Nigerian “419” scams.
The intelligence unit was reportedly set up in 2007.
It established a brothel in Durban as a cover for officials working from home; spied on people, including taxi hitmen, druglords, cigarette and abalone smugglers, Sars officials and politicians. Some Sars officials reportedly infiltrated the ANC as bodyguards.
In September, Johann van Loggerenberg, Sars' former head of tax and customs investigations, who reportedly once headed the unit, was placed on special leave by Moyane pending a misconduct probe.
In November, Sars spokesman Adrian Lackay urged that investigations be completed before commenting further.
On December 5, Moyane announced the suspensions of deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay and strategic planning and risk group executive, Peter Richer. On Monday, Business Day reported that head of modernisation and strategy, Jerome Frey, had quit. - Sapa