Resources How to Tender Tender Articles Tender Sectors Tender News

Gandhi descendant on R6.2m fraud rap

The great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi stood in the dock of a Durban court on Monday, facing a charge of fraud involving R6.2 million. Ashish Ramgobin, 45, who is the daughter of Gandhi’s granddaughter Ela Gandhi and treason triallist and ANC stalwart Mewa Ramgobin, spent the weekend behind bars after being arrested by Durban’s organised crime unit on Friday. Dressed in what appeared to be old jeans and clutching a rain jacket, the self-employed businesswoman did not flinch or try to shield her face from press photographers during her brief first appearance before magistrate Vanitha Armu. The magistrate had given an earlier ruling allowing photographs to be taken in court because, she said, the case had attracted great media interest and there would be no prejudice to the police investigation or the defence case.

According to the charge sheet, the fraud occurred between August and October this year when Ramgobin asked a businessman – identified only as S R Maharaj – for R6.2 million, saying she needed to pay VAT and customs duty on four containers. She claimed they were linked to a contract she had with the Netcare hospital group. The State alleges that she did not use the money for that purpose. Prosecutor Sharon Moodley did not oppose bail and it was granted in an amount of R50 000. She told the magistrate that the R6.2 million was “actual prejudice” because Maharaj had not got his money back. She said another matter involving a similar fraud was still under investigation. Ramgobin’s attorney, Devin Moodley, said while the detail was a matter to be dealt with at any eventual trial, he wished to place on record that the containers were in South Africa at the moment and duties and tax had been paid on one of them already.

In an earlier statement released by Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Malaudzi, it was alleged Ramgobin had stolen more than R11 million from two businessmen. He said the matter was related to a R20-million tender to provide bedding to Netcare. She had allegedly provided forged invoices and documents to the businessmen claiming containers of linen were being shipped from India, but no such tender had been awarded. Ramgobin has to report every week to the investigating officer at his office and is not allowed to leave Durban without his permission. She will appear in court again next month. Netcare declined to comment.

Source: www.iol.co.za

BACK TO NEWS

Gandhi descendant on R6.2m fraud rap

Latest News