SRA: 6 out of 137 cars recovered

MBABANE - In a joint operation, the Eswatini Revenue Authority ( SRA) and the Royal Eswatini Police Service ( REPS) have managed to recover six of the 137 cars that were clandestinely removed from the business premises of a car dealership operated by an Asian.

When the vehicles disappeared they had been placed under detention at the car dealership by the Eswatini Revenue Authority ( SRA) while it ( authority) was still investigating allegations of tax evasion by the directors.

According to the Commissioner General of SRA, Dumsani Masilela, the six cars were found hidden at Magevini, Matsapha, which is the place of residence of the director of the premises where the car dealership was conducting its business.

He averred that the applicant ( Eswatini Revenue Authority) received a tip- off that the motor vehicles that were removed from the second respondent’s ( Sahi Investments) premises were parked at Magevini flats, Block 1, Parking Bay.

The applicant, according to Masilela, immediately engaged the REPS and the operation to recover the motor vehicles commenced.

Respondents in the matter are Extreme Cars Investments ( PTY) Limited, Sahi Investments ( PTY) Limited, Extreme Cars Investments ( PTY) Limited directors, Aftab Muhammad, Uswan Tarar Ali, Harlu Iftik Ahmad, Tanveer Hummad, Sahi Investments ( PTY) Limited directors, Umer Ziyad, Imtiaz Ahmad, Ahmed Imitiaz Raaza and Ahmad Iftikhar.

ADVISED

Masilela told the court that he was advised by the customs officer that when they arrived at Magevini flats, they were attended to by security personnel. According to Masilela, the security personnel indicated to the police and applicant’s officers that the suspected motor vehicles were parked at Block 1, Parking Bay. He further stated that the security personnel indicated to the applicant’s officers that the owners of the motor vehicles reside at Block 1, Flat No. 6 Magevini Flats, Matsapha. “I am advised that the occupants of the Flat No. 6 denied knowledge or ownership of the motor vehicles. He is the director of Sajawal Investments and also of Pakistan origin,” alleged the commissioner general.

“I state that upon inspection of the six vehicles’ number plates, the applicant discovered that out of the six vehicles, two motor vehicles were discovered to have been removed from the first respondent’s ( Extreme Cars Investments) premises,” he stated.

In his replying affidavit, Masilela said the authority had to engage in an investigation and recovery exercise of the motor vehicles that were removed from Sahi Investments premises and to date a total of six vehicles had been recovered while the exercise is ongoing.

“Eswatini Revenue Authority through the assistance of the Royal Eswatini Police Service on June 24, 2021 has recovered six motor vehicles at the residence of the directors of Sahi Investments at Magevini in Matsapha,” submitted Masilela. He further brought it to the attention of the court that the owner of the premises was also the owner and declarant of the detained motor vehicles.

Meanwhile, the owner of the premises previously deposed to an affidavit where he distanced himself from the issue. In his answering affidavit, Imitiaz Ahmad informed the court that Sahi Investments was the registered owner of Lot No. 846 Portion No. 1 Matsapha. He alleged that the company leased this property to a number of companies including Extreme Cars Investments ( PTY) Limited, which was in the business of selling imported cars.

It was further his submission that Sahi Investments and Extreme Cars Investments were completely separate and distinct companies and apart from the lease agreement between them there was no other point of connection.

SUBMITTED

Masilela, submitted that in compliance with the consent order, the applicant ( Eswatini Revenue Authority) duly unlocked the premises of Sahi Investments with the consent order that to protect the State’s interest, the motor vehicles would not be removed by Extreme Cars Investments ( PTY) Limited and Sahi Investments from the premises. Masilela told the court that the parties engaged each other from May 11, 2021 for settlement and they reached same on May 14, 2021.

He said the parties signed a deed of settlement on June 4, 2021. He highlighted that according to Clause 2.4 of the deed of settlement, the removal of the motor vehicles by the respondents would amount to contempt of court.

He submitted that to date Extreme Cars Investment had neglected, failed and/ or refused to be advised by Eswatini Revenue Authority about the removal of the motor vehicles. According to Masilelala, the deed of settlement was made an order of the court.

“I am advised and verily believe that on the very same day the deed of settlement was made an order of the court at about 1400 hours, Eswatini Revenue Authority sent on assignment some of its officers, Mthokozisi Mdluli and Samkelisiwe Dlamini to conduct a random check – up on the motor vehicles detained at Extreme Cars Investments and Sahi Investments,” submitted Masilela.

The commissioner general told the court that he was advised by the Legislative Customs officers that when they arrived personally at the premises, they discovered that out of the 137 motor vehicles as per the detention notice, only one vehicle, a black Mercedes was found parked at the showroom.

The matter is still pending in court and appearing for the applicant is Hlomendlini Mdladla.