South African Revenue Services officials halted all operations at Mastermind Tobacco Company in Wilsonia amid a Rand 57 million fraud case against its directors and senior employees.

The exact reasons for the closure were not disclosed by SARS officials due to confidentiality provisions in the income tax laws, but the actions of the SARS were partly attributed to the severity of the fraud charges.
As local media reported, charges are being brought against the company's three Rwandan directors, Tribert Ayabatwa, Patrick Rujugiro, Jean-Paul Nkwaya, and two senior employees – import/export manager Jennifer Putter and financial manager Pascale Wiehahn. Jointly, the five face 25 counts of fraud relating to non-payment of excise duties, 25 charges of illegally exporting goods from the customs and excise warehouse, six charges relating to the non-payment of Value Added Tax and a charge of irregular dealing in goods.
Mastermind Tobacco SA Ltd manufactures brands such as Yes, Forum and Legends for both local and international markets and has done so since the early 1990s. (pi)