GABONESE NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR R67 MILLION SARS VAT FRAUD
JOHANNESBURG - The Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has sentenced 54-year-old Gabonese national Andre Claude De Diguela to an effective 10 years in direct imprisonment for defrauding the South African Revenue Service (SARS) of approximately R67 million through a sophisticated Value-Added Tax (VAT) refund scheme.
De Diguela, the sole member of Assistance Medicale Internationale CC, was convicted on 128 counts of fraud and 66 counts of money laundering relating to the illicit movement of roughly R10 million. The criminal offenses were committed over a ten-year period.
A Decade of Forged Medical Invoices
The conviction follows an intensive investigation launched in 2024, led by SARS investigator Dillo Nyaphudi. The probe revealed that De Diguela systematically fabricated medical invoices to claim massive VAT refunds. He falsely represented to tax authorities that his close corporation had facilitated medical treatment for foreign nationals at various healthcare facilities across South Africa.
In terms of a plea and sentence agreement concluded with the State, the court sentenced De Diguela to 15 years’ imprisonment on the fraud counts, of which five years were conditionally suspended. He was further sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering counts. Because the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, De Diguela will serve an effective sentence of 10 years’ direct imprisonment.
Severe Impact on the Public Fiscus
During the court proceedings, Senior State Advocate Marius Oosthuizen submitted that the fraudulent claims allowed the accused to unlawfully siphon millions of rands from SARS, causing significant prejudice to the national fiscus and severely undermining the integrity of the country’s tax administration system.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the successful finalisation of the matter, noting that it highlights the dedication of prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to protecting public resources.
The NPA emphasized that tax-related offenses do more than just prejudice the State financially; they actively divert crucial funding intended for the delivery of essential public services and broader socio-economic development.
According to authorities, this conviction and sentence send a clear, strong message that individuals who engage in large-scale fraud and money laundering schemes will be vigorously investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable.
The case further underscores the vital importance of ongoing, effective collaboration between the NPA, SARS, and other law enforcement agencies in detecting and dismantling complex financial crimes.
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