SARS men in urgent court bid

FORMER South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials Ivan Pillay‚ Johann van Loggerenberg and Andries Janse van Rensburg have approached the high court for an urgent application to stay the criminal charges brought against them.

The three were summonsed last month to appear in court on Monday in connection with the alleged bugging of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) offices in 2007.

This follows the suspension of SARS commissioner Tom Moyane by President Cyril Ramaphosa last month.

Moyane had laid the charges that led to the investigation and subsequent summons against the three.

In a founding affidavit by Van Loggerenberg‚ he argued that there would be substantial prejudice to him and his co-accused‚ Pillay in particular‚ should they appear in court on Monday.

“It has been widely reported that [Pillay] is being very seriously considered for reinstatement as a senior official of SARS to restore public confidence in and respect for SARS as an institution,” the affidavit reads.

“[Pillay] is both willing and able to return to SARS in this capacity if so requested.”

The application is aimed at staying the prosecution of the three‚ pending the completion of a review of the decision to prosecute in which they are requesting an opportunity to make representations on the matter.

The counts the three are set to face are contravening the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Transactions Act‚ and contravening the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.