Theunis Crous pleads not guilty in tax fraud case

Controversial businessman Theunis Crous pleaded not guilty to defrauding the tax man out of R3.6-million as his trial got underway in the Port Elizabeth Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday morning.

Crous is accused alongside his former chief financial officer Almero Pienaar of submitting false Value-added tax (VAT) refunds on behalf of now liquidated construction company Ho Hub Corporation between December 2009 and January 2011.

Both Crous and Pienaar‚ who also pleaded not guilty‚ opted not to provide plea explanations at this stage.