Killer family 'too ill to go to jail'

By Juggie Naran

A North Coast couple and their son who were to hand themselves over to prison authorities to start serving lengthy jail sentences on Monday after being convicted of the killing of a relative, instead landed up in hospital in fear of prison life.

The KwaDukuza (Stanger) businessman, Dewnath Ramkissoon, his wife Nirmala, and their son, Dinesh, were to report to prison to begin serving their sentences for killing Jairam Ramkissoon, Dewnath's brother.

An application for leave to appeal by the trio, who were convicted of the June 20, 2006 killing, was recently dismissed in the Pongola circuit of the High Court.

Judge Jan Combrink in September sentenced Dewnath Ramkissoon, 50, to life, his 45-year-old wife to 18 years, and their 27-year-old son to 15 years.

The three were found guilty of acting in common purpose and hiring men to kill Jairam Ramkissoon, then 45, outside his take-away in KwaDukuza. The Ramkissoons' family lawyer, Veronica Singh, said Dewnath and Nirmala were admitted to Victoria Hospital in Tongaat on December 19.

"Dewnath has diabetes, hypertension and severe chest pains which is suggestive of angina, according to their doctor. He also has reflux symptoms. Nirmala is hypertensive and has cramping chest pains and strong dyspeptic symptoms," said Singh.

Dewnath and Nirmala, he said, were transferred on Wednesday to City Hospital to join their son, Dinesh, who was admitted to the hospital last Sunday.

Singh said Dinesh's sugar levels were constantly low and that he also suffered from high blood pressure.

Family anxiety

"All three are apprehensive of the time they will have to spend in prison. They have had sleepless nights from the time their leave to appeal was set down.

"Severe chest pains, panic attacks as well as high sugar and pressure levels has plagued their lives daily since the commencement of this matter and have got worse, post sentence. This has caused severe stress and anxiety not only to the three but also to their only daughter, Nirvana who has had to be hospitalised also on various occasions due to depressive illness.

"The daughter is torn between taking care of her parents and brother while they are in this state as well as trying to keep the family business running," said Singh.

The lawyer said that last Sunday, she had informed the investigating officer, Inspector R V Naidoo, of the condition of the Ramkissoons and their inability to surrender themselves to the prison authorities.

"In addition I supplied him with the names of the relevant doctors treating them.

"Shortly thereafter I contacted him and he informed me that he had spoken to the relevant doctors, as well as the state prosecutor.

"I also informed him that as soon as the Ramkissoons are discharged they will surrender to the prison authorities.

"Attempts were made for them to effectively start their sentence from their hospital beds but we are still awaiting the response to this request. Our clients do not desire to intentionally disobey a court order," she said.

Singh said on Wednesday she had filed the appeal records as well as the heads of argument in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein to appeal against the refusal of bail pending petition.

"Their medical condition and the prejudice to their business as well as the welfare of their daughter and the fact that all three believe in their innocence has formed the basis for the motivation of urgency for the bail application that has been submitted with our application," said Singh.

• This article was originally published on page 21 of The Sunday Tribune on December 27, 2009