Ramith Aneerudh
Image: Supplied
ALMOST two years after orchestrating the murder of his wife Sarika Bridgmohan, who survived the brutal attack, Ramith Aneerudh was sentenced today (Friday) in the Umbumbulu Regional Court to 25 years in prison.
In addition, he was sentenced to 12 years for conspiracy to commit murder, 10 years for kidnapping, 15 years for robbery with aggravated circumstances, and five years for theft.
All of the sentences will run concurrently with the attempted murder sentence.
Speaking to the POST after the sentencing, Bridgmohan said justice had been served.
“I am grateful for the dedication of the investigating officer for ensuring that justice will prevail. The sentence handed down provides a sense of closure and safety knowing that he will serve time in prison for what he has done to me. I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
Aneerudh, 38, of Newlands West, along with his two co-accused, Deon Tyler Naidu, 47, of Umzinto, and Kyle Goldstone, 38, of Ifafa, were arrested for the attempted murder of Bridgmohan, a beauty therapist, in March 2024.
They were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and theft.
Aneerudh pleaded guilty to all the charges in December last year.
In his plea statement, read out by his attorney Ashwin Rughbeer, Aneerudh said he and Bridgmohan left a hotel they had been living in for two years on March 13 at around midday. He said he indicated to Bridgmohan that they should go to a lawyer’s office to fetch documents related to the sale and purchase of a property.
Aneerudh said they left the hotel and he drove Bridgmohan’s vehicle, a white GWM, to a park in Winkelspruit and waited for his co-accused.
He said Bridgmohan requested to use the toilet, and he then drove to a shopping centre.
They then returned to the same place, and he waited for his co-accused.
Aneerudh said he called Goldstone requesting his whereabouts, and thereafter drove further down the park.
He parked next to a silver vehicle driven by Naidu, while Goldstone was seated in the passenger seat.
Aneerudh said he alighted the vehicle and proceeded to his co-accused’s vehicle, where he handed over R1,000 to Goldstone. He said Goldstone asked Bridgmohan to alight the vehicle, and then forcefully pulled her out.
He said he grabbed her handbag and took out the contents which included R1,000 and a cellphone. He also grabbed the cellphone which was in her hand and checked if she sent her location to anyone.
Aneerudh said Naidu then grabbed and pulled Bridgmohan towards his car to force her inside, but she resisted and refused.
He said Goldstone then put a rope around her neck and dragged her. She then became unconscious and was put into the front seat of Naidu’s car.
Aneerudh said he then left in Bridgmohan’s car and went on ahead to a location in Ifafa.
He said Goldstone and Naidu waited with Bridgmohan in a deserted area along the river banks of Umgababa.
Aneerudh said Goldstone and Naidu then drove to fill fuel at a nearby petrol station, and while on the way, Bridgmohan opened the door of the moving car and jumped out. She signalled to a car passing by and asked for help.
He said Goldstone and Naidu fled, and met him at a remote location in Ifafa.
Aneerudh said they decided to flee to the Eastern Cape to hide from police.
He and Goldstone were arrested in Coffee Bay, in the Eastern Cape, on April 16, 2024, by members of Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) who were contacted by Bridgmohan for assistance.
Rusa also recovered Bridgmohan’s vehicle at a property in Umzinto.
Naidu was arrested by police at a house in Umzinto on April 24, 2024.
The trial of Goldstone and Naidu, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has not yet begun.