Pigg’s Peak – Popular hangout spot Zhumaio Lounge and Lifestyle Centre crossover activities were undisrupted and continued as planned.
This is despite the arrest of the northern Hhohho-based hangout spot popular owner and businessman Lucky ‘Ngubs’ Ngubane.
He was arrested by the fraud police department in Mbabane on January 2. He had been summoned by the police on December 31, 2024, and voluntarily surrendered himself, along with another accused, through their attorney.
Ngubane was arrested by fraud police department based at Mbabane and charged with the offences inter alia Tax invasion, money laundering and contravening the Value Added Tax Act.
Ngubane filed an affidavit at the High Court intending to apply for bail, however, the application was later withdrawn after the businessman was released by the magistrates court on his own recognisance.
The businessman and his wife Samkelisiwe Xolile are facing 69 counts of violating Section 66(2)(c) of the Income Tax Order No. 21 of 1957, as amended. The charges include tax evasion, money laundering, and contravening the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act. They are alleged to owe ERS over E100 million.
Meanwhile, he had disclosed that some of his property has been sold to recover the tax money allegedly owed to the Eswatini Revenue Authority (ERS).
At the High Court, the matter was treated as urgent. Ngubane’s legal representative, Machawe Dlamini of MV Dlamini Attorneys, informed Judge Sabelo Masuku of their intention to withdraw the application. Consequently, Judge Masuku ordered the application to be removed from the roll.
In his affidavit, Ngubane stated that payments had already been made to ERS, with some amounts paid directly by Lucky’s Ark Investments, a company he is associated with. Additionally, some of the company’s properties had been sold at auction to recover the tax allegedly owed. He emphasized that engagements between his tax consultants and ERS were ongoing to resolve the matter.
Ngubane maintained his innocence regarding the charges levelled against him and reiterated his plea of not guilty.
He argued that exceptional circumstances existed, warranting his release on bail in the interest of justice.
“Before I was detained by the police, they called me on December 31, 2024 and advised me and the second applicant to report to the police station on January 2,” Ngubane stated.
He said he did not commit the alleged offences and that he had been co-operative with the police in then investigation and volunteered every information that they needed, he added that during trial he would maintain his plea of not guilty.
Giving the gist of the matter, Ngubane stated that during the year 2014 while their company, Lucky’s Ark Investments was submitting tax returns, ERS complained that their paid tax was not incompliance with their calculations for tax
owed.
“However, we then engaged each other and during our discussions, we could not reconcile on the amount to be paid as another sister company was also paying tax. ERS came to the conclusion that the other company was in compliance except for Lucky’s Ark Investments,” Ngubane stated.
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