African Drums boss in court for tax evasion
MBABANE – African Drums Events Management (PTY) Limited Director Marina Henwood yesterday appeared at the Mbabane Magistrates Court accused of tax evasion.
This is the same company that has been involved by different government departments for events management services.
The 61-year-old businesswoman of Helemisi in Manzini under Chief Bhejisa, made her appearance before Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi, charged with two counts.
Returns
In the first count, Henwood is alleged to have evaded tax in that upon or at about the tax years 2016 to 2019 at or near Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) in Ezulwini, she allegedly evaded tax assessments by submitting nil tax returns, implying that the company under her directorship and acting as the company’s public officer, had not engaged in any business dealings during the tax years 2016 to 2019.
It is alleged that when Henwood submitted the nil returns or made the false statement, she knew very well that her company was engaged in business dealings during those tax years.
The charge sheet further states that Henwood’s company made an approximate profit of E42 833 393.71.
In the second count, Henwood is accused of submitting false tax returns implying that her company had not engaged in any business dealings during the year 2016 to 2019.
The initial charge was contravening Section 64 (1) (a) of the Value Added Tax No: 12 of 2011.
She was represented by Sabelo Masuku during her appearance. Masuku applied that Henwood be remanded out of custody pending setting of her trial date.
He submitted that his client was cooperative to the police.
“My client was not aware of the alleged offence, otherwise she would have personally gone to the police station on her own accord. However, she discovered that police officers were already at her homestead when she woke up,” submitted Masuku.
He stated that the nature of the offence Henwood was accused of required that she be remanded out of custody pending setting of trial date.
Trial
The Crown suggested that Henwood return to court on October 7, 2021, for setting of trial date.
She was accompanied by her relatives to court.
Meanwhile, in 2019, it was reported that government had over three years paid about E50 million to Africa Drums Events Management.
It was revealed during a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the company, which is under the directorship of Henwood, was lucky enough to be singlesourced by about five government ministries.