Boksburg, Gauteng – Prelyn Mohanlall, a 53-year-old disbarred attorney from Shallcross, KZN, has been arrested for scamming 17 couples across South Africa. The fraudulent scheme involved taking advance payments for wedding venues that she had no affiliation with, leaving many couples stranded on their wedding day without proper venues.
Mohanlall would demand large sums of money via EFT (electronic funds transfer) from couples for a wedding venue in Botha’s Hill, Kwazulu Natal. However, the venue had been double-booked for multiple couples on the same day, and when families arrived for their weddings, they found the venue in a dilapidated state, with no electricity or water. In some cases, the couples were not even able to view the venue before paying.
The scheme came to light after a couple from Ethekweni, KZN, approached Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) in December 2024, claiming they had been scammed out of R26,000. After RUSA circulated details of the fraud, 17 more victims came forward from various provinces in South Africa, all describing similar experiences.
Detectives from SAPS Boksburg North linked Mohanlall to additional fraud cases, including a R200,000 scam involving a car dealership and the earlier R26,000 scam. It was revealed that Mohanlall had been previously disbarred for stealing funds from a client’s trust fund, and she had a history of scams spanning over 20 years.
Mohanlall was arrested on January 7, 2025, after officers lured her for questioning. She confirmed that she had been a criminal attorney before being barred by the Law Society. Following her arrest, detectives from SAPS Boksburg North will transport her to Gauteng for further investigation.
Mohanlall’s attorney, Chris Gounden, has contacted RUSA, offering to repay victims who have proof of their payments. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges are expected.
