The withdrawal of charges against retired mining mogul Roger Kebble is provisional and does not indicate the matter has been abandoned, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Monday.
”The provisional withdrawal of charges in no way indicates that Sars or the NPA is abandoning this matter. Sars remains confident that there is a case to be answered by the taxpayer,” the two organisations said in a joint statement. ”Sars and the NPA are intent on pursuing the matter until it is properly resolved.”
The withdrawal was provisional to allow for further investigation into charges of fraud against Kebble, the result of alleged non-declaration of income earned.
Investigations will also focus on the ”merits of various allegations” Kebble made to the court in previous appearances, the statement said.
Five charges of tax fraud against Kebble were withdrawn in the Johannesburg Regional Court, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported on Monday.
Kebble was charged with tax evasion amounting to R7,2-million in March last year. The case was postponed at least eight times at the state’s request.
A relieved Kebble told the broadcaster he always knew prosecutors had no case against him.
”In a way I’m happy that it’s been withdrawn, but I do think it’s been unnecessary harassment, and who knows what they are going to start up next? There seems to some kind of a vendetta here, it appears to me,” he said.
Kebble is the father of Brett Kebble, who was murdered in his car in Johannesburg nearly two years ago. — Sapa