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Cape Town – A Cape Town man convicted for a fraudulent VAT returns scheme was denied bail in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
Johan van Staden was “quite emotional” after learning he would remain in jail pending his sentencing next month, said his lawyer, advocate Carlo Viljoen.
“We really expected to get bail and were surprised.”
He said his client had a few words with his wife before being taken down to the cells.
Van Staden had posted R400 000 for bail during his trial. Viljoen said he had not been able to earn money during trial proceedings.
He spent his first night behind bars on Monday after being convicted. The court found him guilty on 35 of 184 counts, related to defrauding the SA Revenue Service of at least R250 million between 2005 and 2008.
Former employees Marc Schoeman, Gerhard Botha and Gary Wybo Newmark were acquitted.
The court found Van Staden conducted a multi-million rand fishing business as a front for submitting false VAT returns.
Lived in luxury
The State described it as one of the largest fraud cases ever prosecuted in the high court.
Judge Anton Veldhuizen said he was satisfied that Van Staden unlawfully managed the enterprise.
He said it was clear he “lived in luxury” on the money from Sars.
The money was used for numerous luxury vehicles, two farms, game, an aeroplane and a flat for his daughter – all registered in a family trust. He also chartered a luxury jet to Mauritius for a family holiday.
The NPA brought a confiscation application on Monday. It would be heard in November.
Sentencing arguments were expected to be heard on July 18.
