We’ve all seen it in the movies when someone says, “Everybody’s got a price.”
This usually happens when a crime is about to be committed and palms need greasing.
However, a customs official in South Africa declined a R200 000 bribe at Musina Beitbridge Border Post after an interlink truck with two trailers, loaded with 614 boxes of semi-manufactured tobacco to the value of over R6 million to enter the country from Zimbabwe.
Forged, fabricated or fraudulent consignment clearance documents and thereby processed through the BBR Customs control area without compliance with the normal customs clearance process and procedures.
On 14 March 2016, Nthapeleng Adler Munyai (47), former manager of Pamdozi Cargo International CC Clearing Agent and Tsumbedzo Priscilla Nemangani Mashito(47), former SARS Customs External Verification Officer allowed the truck to come into South Africa.
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The said truck was stopped at the Musina Weigh bridge by an officer of the Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC) who upon noticing that the truck and trailers’ registration number plates did not correspond with the license discs, on reasonable grounds suspected that there could be something wrong with the load/consignment on the truck.
He then contacted his senior who was off duty and requested his intervention which then resulted in the truck being caused to return to the BBR customs ramp under police and traffic official's escort for inspection.
“Nthapeleng offered the witness gratification of R50 000 whilst the two were still at the weighbridge for him not to cause the truck to be returned to BBR for inspection and with total disregard for the consequences of his actions continued to offer gratification of R 200 000 to the witness (customs official) for him not to carry out any inspection of the truck when it was at the BBR Customs ramp,” the Musina Regional Court heard.
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It was revealed that Tsumbedzo had just reported for work from leave and had swapped the original duty shift posting.
She was also found to have been instrumental in the processing of the truck and its consignment outside the normal and ordinary customs clearance process and procedures and had misrepresented to her employer (SARS) how the transaction relating to the said truck was dealt with.
The presiding officer was persuaded thereby and concluded that the aggravating circumstances far outweighed the mitigating factors and further that the accused persons failed to present substantial and compelling circumstances warranting the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence.
Both accused were sentenced 15 years direct imprisonment term on counts of fraud, forgery, and two counts of corruption.
The truck with its two trailers and 614 boxes of tobacco was also forfeited to the state.
