24 February 2022 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has noted with concern the arrest of two SARS employees on allegations of extortion after the two employees demanded money from a taxpayer in return for reducing or cancelling the taxpayer’s debt.
The taxpayer alleges he received a call from a SARS employee last week and was invited to a meeting. After arriving the taxpayer grew suspicious and contacted the South African Police Service (SAPS), who subsequently planned a sting operation with the taxpayer, leading to the arrest of the two employees. In collaboration with the SARS Anti-Corruption Unit, the matter was handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks).
SARS Commissioner Mr Edward Kieswetter condemned in the strongest terms the alleged conduct of the employees and issued a strong warning to employees and taxpayers who collude to defraud SARS.
