Mining magnate Roger Kebble will stand trial for fraud related to tax evasion in March next year, the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court ruled on Wednesday. In an early-morning appearance, the date for the trial was set for March 19 and 20.
Kebble was initially supposed to appear next week, but it is understood the court appearance was moved up to accommodate an overseas trip he would be taking.
When he returns to court, Kebble will face five charges of fraud.
According to the charge sheet, the first three counts of fraud relate to a business called Skilled Labour Brokers, a close corporation of which Kebble was the sole member.
The business was registered for tax purposes in 1996, and value-added tax returns were submitted for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001.
However, Kebble failed to declare that the business had received any gross income in the income-tax returns for those years.
”Sars [the South African Revenue Service] suffered prejudice in the amount of R1 479 828 as a result of the accused’s conduct,” the charge sheet reads.
The fourth and fifth counts of fraud relate to alleged income-tax evasion in Kebble’s personal capacity. He allegedly defrauded Sars of R5,7-million.
According to the charge sheet, Kebble failed to declare income he had received from gains on share options and directors’ remuneration from Durban Roodepoort Deep in 1999 and 2002.
Kebble left Durban Roodepoort Deep in 2002 after being suspended following allegations of share manipulation.
His son Brett was involved in a similar dispute around share manipulation, which resulted in his resignation from mining company Western Areas. Brett Kebble was murdered in September last year. The case has not been solved.
Roger Kebble was arrested in November 2002 in connection with 38 counts of fraud and contraventions of the Companies Act. These charges, involving about R6-million, were thrown out of court in June last year. — Sapa