MANOJ Harripersad was handed an 18-month suspended sentence for the contravention of the Provision of the Value-added Tax Act in the Port Shepstone Regional Court this week.
Harripersad, a 29-year-old diesel mechanic from Mbango, described how he had been influenced and persuaded by the late Danny Pillay, to file a false VAT statement with the SA Revenue Service in June 2009.
The object, Harripersad told Regional Magistrate Johann Bester, was to falsely claim a refund of value-added tax of R148 800. However SARS picked this up, and no money was paid out.
Danny Pillay and several other people were arrested and charged with various offences, including fraud, but the charges were provisionally withdrawn in the High Court.
Mr Pillay has since died and members of his family have instituted a damages claim against the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and SA Police Service for alleged unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution.
Herman Horn, Harripersad’s attorney, described him as an unsophisticated man who had succumbed to Mr Pillay’s unconscionable ‘snake oil salesman’ powers of persuasion.
