Accused in a six-million rand fraud and forgery case, a 56-year-old great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi has been sentenced to seven years in jail by a Durban court.
Accused in a six-million rand fraud and forgery case, a 56-year-old great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi has been sentenced to seven years in jail by a Durban court.
On Monday, Ashish Lata Ramgobin was found guilty by the court.
Ms Ramgobin was accused of defrauding businessman SR Maharaj after he advanced R6.2 million to her for allegedly clearing import and Customs duties for a non-existent consignment from India. He was promised a share of profits.
The daughter of noted rights activists Ela Gandhi and late Mewa Ramgobind, Lata Ramgobin, was also refused leave to appeal both the conviction and the sentence by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), when Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), had said that she allegedly provided forged invoices and documents to convince potential investors that three containers of linen were being shipped in from India.
Lata Ramgobin, at that time, was released on a bail of 50,000 rand.
During the hearing on Monday, the court was informed that Lata Ramgobin had met Maharaj, director of the New Africa Alliance Footwear Distributors, in August 2015. The company imports and manufactures and sells clothing, linen and footwear.
His company also provides finance to other companies on a profit-share basis.
Maharaj was told by Lata Ramgobin that she had imported three containers of linen for the South African Hospital Group NetCare.
“She said she was experiencing financial difficulties to pay for import costs and customs and she needed the money to clear the goods at the harbour,” NPA spokesperson Natasha Kara said on Monday.
“She advised him (Maharaj) that she needed R6.2 million. To convince him, she showed him what she claimed was a signed purchase order for the goods. Later that month, she sent him what seemed to be a NetCare invoice and delivery note as proof that the goods were delivered and payment was imminent,” she said.
Lata Ramgobin “further sent him confirmation from NetCare’s bank account that payment had been made”, Kara said.
Maharaj had entered into a written agreement with her for the loan because of Ramgobin’s family credentials and NetCare documents. However, after he found out that the documents were forged and NetCare had no arrangements with Lata Ramgobin, he laid criminal charges.
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