Truck hauling illicit diesel from Botswana to Pretoria forfeited to state
The seizure would have seen the South African Revenue Service (SARS) incur a loss of over R270 000, if the man had not been nabbed by police.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has seized a truck used to haul illicit diesel from Gaborone, Botswana to Pretoria.
The effort would have lost the SA revenue service (SARS) more than R270 000 in lost revenue.
NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the North West high court granted the asset forfeiture unit (AFU) an order declaring the state the new owner of the truck and tanker confiscated during the arrest.
“This order relates to an incident wherein Chrispen Pirukai (40), appeared before the Mahikeng magistrate’s court on July 17, following his arrest at the Ramatlabama port of entry. Border police members arrested him after he had allegedly failed to declare that he was transporting diesel from Gaborone, Botswana to Pretoria.”
Mamothaame said his arrest followed a Hawks tip-off on July 15, that Pirukai was driving a truck on his way to the border.
“He was stopped by border police at the port of entry where he allegedly declared that the truck was empty. However, upon inspection, the trailers were allegedly found to contain approximately 45 000 litres of diesel.”
As a result, Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation and SARS customs and illicit economic activities division were called in, then the accused was arrested and charged with contravention of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Act No. 91 of 1964).
“North West director of public prosecutions Dr Rachel Makhari lauded the unit for successfully receiving an order for the forfeiture of assets which are proceeds of crime, impacting negatively on the economy of the country.”
North West Lieutenant-Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said Pirukai was fined R12 000, alternatively sentenced to 12 months in jail wholly suspended for five years.
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