NRI Prelyn Mohanlal, arrested for defrauding couples in South Africa
Los Angeles/Jan 09, 2025
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/A.Gary Singh
NRI Prelyn Mohanlall, a 53-year-old disbarred attorney from South Africa, was arrested on Tuesday (January 7) for defrauding 17 couples by accepting large payments for wedding venue bookings that she had no connection with. Mohanlall was apprehended after a private security company, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), tracked her down through their Facebook platform. Her attorney, Chris Gounden, has since reached out to RUSA to arrange repayments for victims who can provide proof of payment.
Mohanlall’s fraudulent activities began when she convinced couples to pay significant sums upfront to secure wedding venues. On their wedding days, the couples arrived at empty locations, some without electricity or water, only to realize that their dream celebrations had turned into devastating experiences.
Criminal History and Investigations
Investigations into Mohanlall’s activities revealed a history of fraud spanning over two decades. She was previously disbarred as a criminal attorney by the Law Society after embezzling funds from a client’s trust account. Additionally, police in Boksburg North reported that she was wanted in connection with other fraud cases, including defrauding a car dealership of R200,000 (approximately ₹9,07,730) and another couple of R26,000 (approximately ₹1,18,004).
Claims of Financial Hardship
Mohanlall cited financial struggles as the cause of her actions. She claimed her business faced severe challenges after her partners left and numerous weddings were canceled. “It’s not a scam, and I am not a scammer. My company went through so much,” she stated during an interview. She admitted owing nine couples around R60,000 (approximately ₹2,72,319) and promised to repay them.
While Mohanlall’s legal team is working to compensate the victims, her court date will determine whether her repayment efforts will influence her sentencing.
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