South Africa: A disbarred attorney of Indian descent has been taken into custody in South Africa for allegedly deceiving 17 couples in a wedding venue scam. The accused, 53-year-old Prelyn Mohanlall, reportedly convinced couples to pay substantial amounts in advance for wedding venues she had no association with, leaving their special day in shambleas.

Mohanlall was arrested on Tuesday following a pursuit by a private security firm, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA). According to RUSA, she had been evading capture since one of the scammed couples sought their help in December 2023. Prem Balram, the head of RUSA, revealed that social media and investigative efforts exposed similar scams targeting couples across various provinces.

On their wedding day, the victims arrived at the supposed venue only to find it deserted, lacking basic utilities like electricity and water. The fraudulent activity caused immense emotional and financial stress for the couples, many of whom had to cancel their weddings and make alternative arrangements.

Mohanlall’s legal troubles extend beyond the wedding scam. Authorities in Boksburg North confirmed she is wanted for additional fraud cases, including defrauding a car dealership of R 2,00,000 (approximately Rs 9,07,730) and another couple of R 26,000 (approximately Rs 1,18,004). Her history of illegal activity spans more than 20 years, during which she was disbarred by the Law Society for embezzling from a client’s trust fund.

Despite the mounting evidence, Mohanlall denies running a scam. She claims her business faced financial hardship due to partner withdrawals and increased cancellations. “It’s not a scam, and I’m not a scammer. My company has endured a lot,” she told The Post. She admitted owing nine couples roughly R 60,000 (about Rs 2,72,319) and pledged to reimburse them.

One victim recounted the distress caused by the ordeal, saying he and his fiancée were forced to cancel their wedding and save again for a rescheduled event. “What she took from us had a significant impact on our plans,” he said.

Mohanlall’s attorney, Chris Gounden, has reportedly reached out to RUSA to coordinate the repayment process for victims with proof of payment. Legal proceedings are underway, with an upcoming court date expected to address whether her repayment efforts will influence her sentence.