SARS media liaison officer, Adrian Lackay, responds:

SARS made contact with the director of Tramon Air and explained that an audit was to be conducted in order to satisfy SARS Customs that all Tramon Air’s aircraft and spares were imported in accordance with SARS legislation.
A meeting was scheduled with Tramon Air’s accountant to assist during the conduct of the audit. It was during this meeting that SARS discovered seeming irregularities with the use of invoices.
Based on this alleged contravention, SARS officials then detained the pertinent files, seven in total. SARS discovered problems with invoicing and how the importer’s code was applied. This was explained to Tramon Air and the director was informed that SARS would have to detain the documents for a longer period than originally anticipated.
SARS officials were assured by the accountant in the director’s presence that all their accounting records on the seven files taken were on their Pastel system and that the confiscated documents would not affect their day-to-day business.
SARS later visited the client, returned all the files, and a meeting was planned for March 31, 2004 at which time the audit would be finalised.
At this meeting the accountant was unable to locate certain documents. The missing information could not be adequately explained by the company. SARS had reason to believe information was being concealed.
SARS officials called the accountant and asked to meet her on April 5 to finalise the audit and approval was duly obtained from the director. Given this, SARS finds it strange that he is now threatening to obtain a court interdict.