Indian-Origin South African Attorney Arrested for Scamming Couples Out of Wedding Venue Fees

A South African attorney of Indian descent, aged 53, has been apprehended for defrauding 17 couples by booking the same venue on the same day. A private security firm tracked her down. Her lawyer and family have promised to reimburse the victims, potentially allowing her to avoid jail time for fraud.

Although she was initially unnamed due to not appearing in court, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) identified her as Prelyn Mohanlall on Facebook. Her lawyer, Chris Gounden, contacted RUSA to arrange repayments for those with proof of payment. Mohanlall allegedly persuaded couples to pay large sums for a venue she had no connection with.

Fraudulent Activities Uncovered

Upon arriving at the venue, couples found it deserted, lacking water and electricity, ruining their wedding days. One couple, wishing to remain anonymous, hired RUSA in December last year to locate Mohanlall. Through social media, RUSA discovered 17 couples had been scammed similarly.

"Complainants were from several provinces in South Africa," stated Prem Balram, Head of RUSA. A detective from SAPS Boksburg North in Gauteng province informed RUSA that Mohanlall was wanted for two fraud cases in Gauteng in 2024. She had defrauded a car dealership of R200,000 and a couple of R26,000.

History of Deception

After being tracked down by RUSA, Mohanlall told officers she was a disbarred criminal attorney who had stolen from a client's Trust Fund account. "It was later established that the suspect was convicted for fraud and has a criminal record and a history of scams spanning over 20 years," Balram said.

The weekly Post reported that Mohanlall denied running a scam, claiming her business faced difficulties and she struggled to repay those who cancelled their weddings. She claimed she owed nine couples about R60,000 and planned to repay every cent.

Victims' Struggles

"It's not a scam and I am not a scammer. My company went through so much," Mohanlall told the weekly. She explained that late last year, nine cancellations occurred, and she sent letters promising full refunds but couldn't repay promptly as her partners withdrew in October.

A man who fell victim shared how he and his fiancée faced embarrassment after cancelling their wedding and had to save again for months to reschedule it later this year. "Based on what she ‘stole’ from us, it drastically impacted our planning," he said.

The incident highlights the severe impact of such scams on victims' lives. The promise of repayment offers some hope for the affected couples as they seek justice and closure.