Casino predator sentenced to 10 years in jail for drugging and robbing granny (92)

A 74-YEAR-OLD Westville widow with a criminal history dating back to 1981, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after drugging a 92-year-old grandmother and stealing R330 000 worth of jewellery.

The victim was left unconscious for four days in her flat.

Hannah Naidoo, a mother of four, was charged with attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances after she laced the grandmother’s milkshake with sedatives and robbed her of over R330 000 worth of jewellery in March 2024.

She had befriended her at Suncoast Casino.

In the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday, Magistrate MK Pillay found Naidoo not guilty of attempted murder. However, she was found guilty of robbery with aggravated circumstances.

During the sentencing, State prosecutor Vaneshree Moodley told the court Naidoo had befriended the elderly woman at the casino about a month before the crime. She gained the woman’s trust, and visited her with a milkshake and cake on the afternoon of the incident, said Moodley.

“She acted in common purpose with an accomplice, who had not been identified or arrested by police. The milkshake was allegedly laced with a sedative, which rendered the elderly victim unconscious for four days,” said Moodley.

Naidoo had robbed the woman of about R181 000 worth of gold chains and a Kruger coin, R106 000 worth of ivory and gold bangles, and high-end branded watches to the value of R50 000.

None of the stolen items were recovered by police.

In an interview with the POST on Monday, the victim’s son, who did not want to be named to protect the identity of his mom, said their family welcomed the sentence.

“At the time, I had visited my mom and found her in a semi-comatose state. The door to her home was unlocked and she was lying on her bed. We thought she was ill. We never thought she had been drugged and robbed.

“We rushed her to hospital where blood tests showed she had been drugged with a sedative that knocked her out completely. She spent five days in hospital. When she was discharged and we took her home, she realised her jewellery was missing.

“We called the police. They began investigations and found patterns. We were told that this was not Naidoo’s first victim, and there were a string of other cases against her.

"We are delighted that justice is served and that Naidoo will be behind bars for the next 10 years. The stolen jewellery was not found. However, we are thankful my mom has fully recovered from the ordeal,” said the victim’s son.

“Using her age as an excuse”

Naidoo has seven other pending charges of attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and theft against her.

In September, she was denied bail in the Durban Magistrate’s Court, despite claiming she had stage 4 colon cancer. At the time, Naidoo told the court she needed to be released on bail due to her urgent need for chemotherapy.

However, Dr Rukaya Hoosen, from the Department of Correctional Services, testified she had received confirmation from test results that Naidoo was cancer-free.

Magistrate Ashwin Singh said Naidoo was using her age as an excuse, but was fit enough to frequent Suncoast Casino late at night.

Crime spree

• 1981: Naidoo was first arrested for theft after she robbed a complainant for money. At the time, she was sentenced to 90 days imprisonment, suspended for five years.
• 1991: She was convicted of offences relating to monetary debts and was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for five years.
• August 2018: She allegedly robbed a 78-year-old woman, of Sydenham, of R1 million worth of jewellery, her Mercedes Benz, and clothing.
• March 2022: She allegedly robbed a woman from Sheffield Estates, of R50 000 worth of jewellery.
• March 2024: She allegedly drugged and robbed a 92-year-old grandmother at her flat in central Durban. The victim was robbed of R337 000 worth of jewellery.
• September 2024: She allegedly drugged and robbed a Montclair woman. She allegedly put sedatives in her tea and sandwich. R60 000 worth of jewellery was allegedly stolen.
• May 2025: She allegedly spiked a 66-year-old woman’s tea and robbed her of R20 000 at Suncoast Casino.

THE POST