Lata Ramgobin, Mahatma Gandhi's Great Granddaughter Sentenced To 7 Years Of Jail In Fraud Case

Mahatma Gandhi's great granddaughter Lata Ramgobin jailed: Lata Ramgobin, the 56-year-old great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi was accused in a 6 million rand fraud and forgery case. The Durban court has now sentenced her to seven years of imprisonment.

Ashish Lalta Ramgobin was accused of defrauding SR Maharaj, a businessman who advanced her 6.2 million rands. Allegedly, the amount was meant for clearing import and customs duties for a consignment from India that was non-existent. He was promised a share of profits.

The Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court refused leave to Ramgobin to appeal both the conviction and the sentence. When trial in the Lata Ramgobin case started in 2015, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudziof the National prosecuting Authority (NPA), had claimed that she allegedly provided fake invoices and documents in order to convince potential investors that three containers of linen were being shipped in from India. Back in the time, she was released on a bail of 50,000 rand.

As per reports, Ramgobin met Maharaj in August 2015. He is the director of the New Africa Alliance footwear Distributors. The company provides finance to other companies on a profit-share basis. Ramgobin informed Maharaj that she had imported three containers of linen for the South African Hospital Group NetCare.

NPA spokesperson Natasha Kara on Monday said that Ramgobin claimed to be experiencing financial difficulties to pay the import costs and customs. She needed the money to clear the goods at the harbour. "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," said Kara. She added, "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."

Ramgobin reportedly further sent him confirmation from the bank account of NetCare claiming that the payment was done. Because of her family credentials and NetCare documents, Maharaj entered into a written agreement with her for the loan. However, after Maharaj found out that the documents were forged and that NetCare did not have any arrangements with Mahatma Gandhi great granddaughter, he filed criminal charges.

Lata Ramgobin was the founder and executive director of the Participative Development Initiative at the NGO International Centre for Non-Violence. She has previously described herself as an activist with focus on environmental, societal and political interests. Ramgobin's mother, Ela Gandhi is the recipient of many national honours from both India and South Africa.