PRETORIA - Families whose dream December holidays were stolen are holding their breath, hoping the court won’t release the alleged thief on bail.
They filled the Pretoria courtroom where Premila Shunmugam applied for bail.
At the heart of the case against the alleged multimillion-rand travel scam mastermind are allegations of repeat fraud, and a desperate plea from victims who say Christmas has already been taken from them.
The court heard that 37 fraud cases have been opened against Shunmugam at police stations nationwide.
The state further revealed she is a repeat offender.
The prosecutor told the court that bail should be denied, arguing that investigating officers still need to bring additional cases against Shunmugam.
But her defence pleaded for bail.
Her lawyer argued that she is the sole breadwinner for her family and suffers from a chronic medical condition. He insists she is not a flight risk.
Outside the court, the human cost of the case was impossible to ignore.
Families say they paid for luxury trips to places like Mauritius, Dubai, Bali and Zanzibar only to discover days before departure that nothing had ever been booked.
Shunmugam will know her fate on Tuesday, when the bail judgment will be handed down.
For now, victims are hoping the court’s decision will be in their favour and that she will remain behind bars for Christmas.
- eNCA’s Nabeelah Shaikh reports.