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- 74-year-old sentenced for drugging elderly casino victims.
- Victim’s jewelry worth US$19K remains unrecovered.
- Prosecutors call Naidoo a danger driven by greed.
A 74-year-old widow accused of drugging and robbing multiple elderly casino patrons in South Africa has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, The Post reports.
Hannah Naidoo, top right, befriended her victims at the Suncoast Casino in Durban, South Africa, main image. She was described by prosecutors as having a dangerous lust for money” and a “blatant disregard for human life.” (Image: South African Tourism/IOL)Hannah Naidoo was convicted of the aggravated robbery in March 2025 of a 92-year-old grandmother whose milkshake she laced with sedatives after befriending her at the Suncoast Casino in Durban. Naidoo made off with US$19K worth of jewelry and watches, none of which have been recovered.
The victim was found unconscious in her apartment two days after the attack by her son and grandson, according to court documents. She awoke four days later in intensive care but recovered.
Naidoo was found not guilty of an attempted murder charge in relation to the case by the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Multiple Cases
This was just one of seven cases involving drugging and robbery pending against the mother of four who has a criminal history dating back to 1981, according to prosecutors. Police believe there may be further victims who have yet to come forward.
In May this year, while on bail for the earlier attack, she allegedly spiked a 66-year-old woman’s tea and robbed her of approximately US$1,100 at Suncoast.
The victim suffered medical complications from the alleged drugging and was admitted to hospital, prosecutors said. She is expected to recover.
Media coverage of Naidoo’s alleged crimes prompted other victims to come forward, including a 67-year-old woman who claimed that Naidoo had laced her sandwich and tea with sedatives before stealing jewelry valued at about US$3,500 in September 2024.
‘Lust for Money’
In court, Naidoo, who falsely claimed to be suffering from stage 4 cancer, had painted herself as a harmless old lady who posed “no danger to the public.” But prosecutors rejected the self-characterization, describing her as having “a dangerous lust for money,” and a “blatant disregard for human life.”
Magistrate Ashwin Singh said Naidoo could not use her age as an excuse because she was well enough to frequent casinos late at night.
The sentence was welcomed by the family of the 92-year-old victim.
“We are delighted that justice is served and that Naidoo will be behind bars for the next 10 years. The stolen jewelry was not found. However, we are thankful my mom has fully recovered from the ordeal,” the victim’s son told The Post.
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