Mahatma Gandhi's Great-Granddaughter Jailed for Fraud by Durban Court

DURBAN: The great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Ashish Lata Ramgobin on Monday has been reportedly sentenced to seven years in jail by a Durban court for her involvement in a six million rand fraud and forgery case.

Reportedly, the 56-year-old was accused of defrauding a businessman after he paid her an amount of 6.2 million in advance for clearing import and customs duties for a non-existent consignment from India. She assured him that a share of the profits will be given to him.

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The Durban court refused Rangobin's appeal for both the conviction and the sentence.

Lata Ramgobin, who is the daughter of noted rights activists Ela Gandhi and late Mewa Ramgobind,

At the beginning of the trial in 2015, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) stated that Ramgobin allegedly provided forged documents to lure investors that three containers of linen were being sent to India.

Reportedly, Ramgobin told the businessman that she had imported three containers of linen for the South African Hospital Group NetCare however she was having some financial issues to pay for import costs and customs and she needed the money to clear the goods at the harbor.

The company imports and manufactures and sells clothing, linen, and footwear. Maharaj’s company also provides finance to other companies on a profit-share basis. Lata Ramgobin had told Maharaj that she had imported three containers of linen for the South African Hospital Group NetCare.

"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 in a report.

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