The amounts on fake invoices submitted by Shauwn Mpisane were lower than those on the genuine invoices issued by suppliers, the Durban Regional Court heard.
|||Durban - The amounts on fake invoices submitted by Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane were lower than those on the genuine invoices issued by suppliers, the Durban Regional Court heard on Tuesday.
Rafik Bhana SC, for Mpisane, was cross-examining SA Revenue Service auditor Waheeda Osman.
Bhana said the genuine invoices, for R6.5 million, had exceeded the value of the fictitious invoices by R1.5m.
Mpisane is accused of inflating invoices by more than R5 million in an attempt to cut her tax bill. She is also accused of violating the Close Corporations Act by remaining the sole member of Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance, and Transport CC when she had a previous fraud conviction. Mpisane has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court heard earlier that Mpisane's tax liability, as calculated by Osman, was reversed after the suppliers' invoices were audited by her colleague Samantha Ramharak.
On Tuesday, Bhana accused Osman of being “jaundiced and biased and driving an agenda”, and of suppressing information. She disputed this.
Bhana previously submitted that the fictitious invoices did not benefit Mpisane or her business.
According to the State, Zikhulise CC's bookkeeper Kishal Reddy forged four invoices in the amount of R5,053,035. This was allegedly done on Mpisane's instructions.
Reddy has pleaded guilty to fraud and forgery, and to contravening the VAT Act. - Sapa