South African Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane has told Parliament that potential criminal charges facing top tax official Jonas Makwakwa are not his responsibility.
Moyane has been facing questions from Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance over Makwakwa's controversial reinstatement.
Makwakwa was reinstated this month after almost a year on suspension over a report about suspicious transactions in his accounts, reports EWN's Gaye Davis.
Read: Corruption Watch to fight tooth and nail over Makwakwa's exoneration
The Financial Intelligence Centre flagged suspicious transactions involving accounts held by him and fellow Sars employee Kelly-Anne Elskie.
Moyane claims that the Hawks' probe into Makwakwa has nothing to do with him, adding that it is a separate matter for authorities to investigate.
The Sars boss claims that law firm Hogan Lovells cleared Makwakwa of professional misconduct during its probe.
Moyane says a criminal investigation is separate process which does not concern him.
#SARS Moyane claims that the Hawks' probe into Makwakwa has nothing to do with him, a separate matter - he's 'heard nothing' from either Shaun Abrahams or the Hawks... GD
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 28, 2017
#SARS Hanekom suggests allegations that R1,7m stuffed into Elskie/Makwakwa accounts shld be very much the SARS Commissioner's concern GD
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 28, 2017
Meanwhile, Standing Committee on Finance chair Yunus Carrim has questioned whether Makwakwa is being protected because he knows too much.
Listen to EWN's Gaye Davis unravel the latest developments:
This article first appeared on CapeTalk : Sars boss argues criminal probe into Makwakwa not within his ambit