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'Cronje could face hefty tax bill'

South Africa's disgraced former cricket captain Hansie Cronje could face a bill for more than 2,84,000 rand (41,000 dollars) from the South African revenue service in outstanding taxes and penalties, a local newspaper said on Saturday.

The Johannesburg Saturday Star reported that this was the amount Cronje could be asked to pay if he co-operated with tax authorities, ''pending investigation to determine his total earnings from bribes''.

Cronje is at the centre of a government inquiry being held in Cape Town into alleged match-fixing after he admitted taking money from a bookmaker.

The newspaper said the immunity from criminal prosecution offered to Cronje for ''full disclosure'' during the inquiry would not cover his tax liability nor an alleged offence against the exchange control act for failing to declare foreign currency he has admitted was kept at his home.

A contravention of this act carries a possible fine of 2,50,000 rand (36,420 dollars) or five years in prison. Foreign currency brought into South Africa is required to be declared and sold within 30 days.

The report also said the South African police services' asset forfeiture unit is taking an interest in Cronje's assets, and that if a crime is proved it might be possible for the unit to seize Cronje's luxury house on the fancourt golf estate at George in the western Cape, as well as cash deposits.

According to the report, knowingly buying property with illegally acquired money carries a maximum penalty of a fine of 100 million rand (14.57 million dollars) or 30 years in prison.

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