PTI recently reported that Ashish Lata Ramgobin, the great grand daughter of Mahatma Gandhi has been jailed for seven years in a six-million (INR 3.33 Cr) fraud and forgery case. The 56 year old woman was found guilty on Monday and sentenced by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
daughter of noted rights activists Ela Gandhi and late Mewa Ramgobind, was also refused leave to appeal both the conviction and the sentence by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court, South Africa.
Lata was accused of defrauding businessman SR Maharaj when he advanced INR 6.2 million to her for allegedly clearing import and custom duties for a non-existent consignment from India. He was promised a share of profits.
During the trial, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had said that Lata Ramgobin allegedly provided forged invoices and documents to convince investors that three containers of linen were being shipped in from India.
SR Maharaj is the director of the New Africa Alliance Footwear Distributors. The company imports and manufactures and sells clothing, linen and footwear, and also provides finance to other companies on a profit-sharing basis.
