CCN NEWS
Bellville:- Former SARS employee and registered tax practitioner Michael Benson has been sentenced to 6 years in prison after being convicted on multiple charges of fraud, forgery, uttering, and failing to keep proper records.
Benson submitted 11 false VAT201 returns over 25 months, claiming R1.7 million in fraudulent VAT refunds. SARS paid out R1.58 million before stopping the final claim after detecting irregularities.
When SARS requested proof, Benson produced forged invoices, bank statements and contracts to justify the false refunds.
Benson previously worked as a VAT auditor and compliance officer at SARS, giving him insider knowledge of the system. The court found the crimes were deliberate, well-planned, and motivated by personal enrichment. He made no repayment to SARS.
The Sentence
- 10 years imprisonment, of which 4 years are suspended (effective 6 years direct imprisonment)
- Forgery & uttering: 4 years, wholly suspended
- Failure to keep records: R4 000 fine, suspended
- Declared unfit to possess a firearm
NPA Response
The NPA welcomed the ruling, saying the sentence sends a strong warning that tax practitioners who abuse public trust and defraud the state will face severe consequences, including jail time.
