Tebogo Msimanga |
A 43-year-old Linda Labuschagne appeared in New Law court in Gqeberha on Tuesday for several allegations of tax fraud. It is alleged that between 2017 and 2020, Labuschagne employed as a bookkeeper in BVSA Tax Consultancy Firm and DP Wealth Tax Consultancy allegedly misappropriated funds totalling R2.4million.
Eastern Cape Hawks Spokesperson Yolisa Mgolodela said Labuschagne allegedly misappropriated more than R1.7 million from BVSA and more than R680 000 from DP Wealth.
“She is reported to have orchestrated the transactions by providing clients from both companies with bank accounts purporting to be those of SARS whereas they were hers.”
Mgolodela further said the Tax Consultancy firms received complaints from their clients for unpaid tax returns. “Labuschagne was investigated for fraud which led to her subsequent arrest on 20 July 2021.”
She made a short appearance at Gqeberha New Law court on the very same day and was released on R10 000 bail.
The Provincial Head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya commended the Gqeberha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for the breakthrough in the matter. The case is remanded to 2 August 2021.