Sars rogue spy unit charges slammed

FREEDOM Under Law (FUL) has rubbished the summons served on former SA Revenue Services (Sars) senior staffers and said the latest move by authorities would not go anywhere.

Last week, former Sars deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay, former head of the high risk investigation unit Johann van Loggerenberg, and Andries Janse van Rensburg announced that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, served them with a summons relating to a report by auditors KPMG regarding a rogue spy unit in Sars.

FUL said it was convinced that the charges were “as groundless as those of 2016 and will suffer the same fate”.

“FUL notes with concern that, although Ivan Pillay and Johann van Loggerenberg have throughout been able and willing to co-operate, these new charges have been presented without any enquiry, forewarning or opportunity to make representations.

“This is in such contrast to the courtesies accorded others that there is every reason to question the motive behind these renewed allegations.”

FUL said it would write to President Cyril Ramaphosa urging him to consider suspending National Prosecuting Authority boss Shaun Abrahams and senior managers, Priority Crimes Litigation Unit head Dr Torie Pretorius, and advocate Sibongile Mzinyathi. – African News Agency (ANA)