The case against Ashley Mphephu (42) was finalised by the Middelburg Serious Commercial Crimes court on Thursday.

Mphephu was accused of defrauding the South African Revenue Services, which led to SARS suffering a loss of R1 070 000 during the 2013/2014 income tax financial year returns.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi (provincial spokesperson of the Hawks), Mphephu intentionally filed fraudulent tax returns for six Transnet employees. After investigations were conducted, it was discovered that he added false information on medical tax certificate returns without members’ knowledge.

The matter was then reported to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation unit based in Middelburg for further investigations.

Mphephu was charged with Contravention of the Tax Administration Act.

Charges were also laid against the six Transnet employees, but were later withdrawn.

He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment or pay a R200 000 fine.

Mphephu was ordered to pay R70 000 of the fine immediately, and the remaining amount to be paid in instalments of R2 500 by the seventh day of each month, from September 2025.

He was further ordered to pay R50 000 to the Criminal Assets Recovery Account before August 28.

Three years of his sentence was suspended for five years, on the condition that he is not convicted of a similar offence.

The media statement that was sent out said that SARS managed to recover some of the money from Mphephu and his six co-accused.