The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court’s decision to dismiss a convicted fraudster’s bid to appeal his prison sentence sends a strong signal that white-collar crime will not be treated lightly.
On Thursday, the court refused Juan Maritz leave to appeal his 15-year prison sentence after he was convicted of value-added tax (VAT) fraud. He was sentenced in September last year.
According to the NPA, Maritz failed to submit VAT returns to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for several years, despite his company continuing to trade during that time.
KwaZulu-Natal NPA spokesperson Natasha Kara said the offences occurred between 2008 and 2015.
“He was convicted on eight counts of fraud amounting to approximately R3.6 million last year. The NPA welcomes the court’s ruling in refusing this application,” Kara said.
She added that Maritz, who began serving his sentence in September, will remain behind bars to serve the remainder of his term.
The authority says the ruling underscores its commitment to holding individuals accountable for financial crimes that undermine the country’s revenue system a reminder that fraud doesn’t come with a soft landing.