BUSINESS NEWS
Airport syndicate claims untrue: Sars
Posted Tue, 27 Jun 2006
The SA Revenue Service (Sars) on Monday dismissed claims by certain diplomats that custom officials at Johannesburg International Airport are working with crime syndicates. "Sars rejects the suggestions that there is sustained or systematic collusion between its customs officials and criminal syndicates. In any country — developed or developing — there are instances where individuals partake in corrupt activities or improper conduct," Sars said in a statement.
According to a weekend report in the Sunday Independent, some African ambassadors believed crime syndicates operating at the airport were working with customs officials to spot diplomats and other foreigners on arrival. They then followed the visitors home or instructed their accomplices to do so in order to rob them. The paper reported that three embassies have been held up in the past four months. Malawian and Iranian diplomatic staff told the newspaper that they have spoken to Foreign Affairs about the
matter. Foreign Affairs however denied this. "There should be an investigation into Johannesburg Airport because these syndicates are working with police and customs officials," Nigeria's ambassador to South Africa, Olugbenga Ashiru, told the newspaper.
Sars said it had received no complaints from any member of the diplomatic community. "Allegations of collusion are misinformed at best or, at worst, isolated cases of individual misconduct." Sars found it regrettable that members of the diplomatic community chose the media to raise their concerns. They should instead be brought to the attention of Sars or other government institutions, the statement said. It called on the diplomats to report suspected criminal activity to Sars and promised action if it was found to be credible. "Until such time Sars remains of the opinion that allegations of criminal or unethical conduct is without substance or validation," it said.
Sapa
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