EASTERN CAPE – Linda Labuschagne (43) appeared in New Law court 27 in Gqeberha for several allegations of tax fraud on 20 July 2021.
It is alleged that during the period between 2017 and 2020, Labuschagne employed as a bookkeeper in BVSA Tax Consultancy Firm and DP Wealth Tax Consultancy respectively as a bookkeeper allegedly misappropriated funds to the amount of more than R2.4million. From BVSA she is alleged to have misappropriated more than R1.7 million 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.
The Tax Consultancy firms on receiving complaints from their clients for unpaid tax returns decided to lodge complaints for probing by Gqeberha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team 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 matter is remanded to 2 August 2021 at Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Gqeberha.
The Provincial Head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya commended the Gqeberha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for the breakthrough in the matter.