Picture: Travel agent, Premila Shunmugam
By REGINALD KANYANE
24 December 2025- The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has granted R100 000 bail to travel agent, Premila Shunmugam (57) of Silver Touch Events from Greenstone Hill. Shunmugam is facing 3 counts of fraud amounting to R400 000.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said it is alleged that in July 2025, Shunmugam used the same modus operandi to defraud multiple clients. Mahanjana said she allegedly offered to help the complainants to book luxury trips abroad through her travel agency.
“After reaching an agreement, the complainants would transfer funds to her. However, after receiving the money the accused would not render any services to the complainants and did not refund the funds. The complainants subsequently reported the matters at various police stations.
“On 8 December 2025, the accused went to Wierdabrug Police Station to provide the police with her statement and after interrogation she was arrested. During bail proceedings, the state opposed the accused’s release on bail,” she said.
Mahanjana further said the state prosecutor, Chris Maruma, submitted an affidavit from the Investigating Officer Sergeant Martin Malapela stating that Shunmugam is not a first-time offender because she has a previous conviction of fraud from the year 2006. Mahanjana added that the affidavit further stated that the accused currently has 37 dockets opened against her in Gauteng and other provinces and that after relocating to a different area, she refused to provide the police with her new address.
“However, the magistrate said that even though the accused has several dockets opened against her, she has not been charged yet and that having one previous conviction does not mean that she has a propensity to commit crime. Therefore, he found exceptional circumstances to release the accused on bail.
“The matter was postponed to 18 February 2026 for further investigations,” she said.
The Guardian 