MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The legal team of Mossel Bay Municipality's portfolio chairperson for Finance, Alderman Mark Furness, and a co-accused Marie Francis, will make representations for possible withdrawal of the charges against them.
The two appeared in the George Magistrate's Court today, 23 April, for the fourth time on charges of tax-related offences.
The charges involve the business, Bardins Jewellers. Furness and Francis have 75% and 25% interest in Bardins respectively.They are facing 14 counts of tax-related offences.
Furness and Francis made a brief court appearance today, following plea agreement negotiations.
An agreement was reached to make representations for possible withdrawal of the matter directly to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Cape Town, to save time.
The court heard that these representations must be submitted on or before 16 May.
The matter is scheduled for the same court again on 16 May to prove that representations have been made.
The DPP will decide whether the matter must proceed or whether the charges will be withdrawn.
Previous articles:
- Finance chair to appear in court, charges unrelated to work, says mayor
- Finance chair, co-accused appear: 14 counts of tax offences
- Mossel Bay finance chair court case postponed due to outstanding docket
- Mossel Bay finance chair to appear in court again in April
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
