Lata Ramgobin, the great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi has been sentenced to 7 years in prison in South Africa amidst defrauding allegations. The 56 year old was accused in a 6 million rand cheating case by a famous businessman, and was recently tried in court. She was found to be guilty on Monday and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
The trial against Lata started in 2015 for cheating a businessman of 6 million dollars. Following trials at that time, she was released by paying a bail amount of 50,000 rand.
The recent trial accused of cheating Maharaj, director of the New Africa Alliance Footwear Distributors, of 2.6 million rand. She had asked for a loan to him saying that she was importing linen. She was accused of having allegedly forged invoices saying that linen containers that she had ordered were being shipped in from India to South Africa in order to fool investors. This accusation was put forth by Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“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.