Dead millionaire’s assets spark court battle

May 05, 2011 News

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…daughter accuses helpers of trying to steal racing service, property

Controversy surrounds the management and control of the Horseshoe Racing Service and assets of the now dead owner who allegedly bequeathed his multi-million-dollar enterprise to one of his employees and his maid.
The dead man’s eldest daughter is now here fighting to recover her father’s properties.
The Horseshoe Racing Service located at Commerce and Longden Streets, Georgetown was owned by 83 year-old Yusuf Mongroo, who also operated similar services in Barbados. The man died on August 15, 2010 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
A post mortem performed on the body by Dr. Nehaul Singh, the Government Pathologist, found that Cerebral Edema (cerebral edema is an excess accumulation of water in the intracellular and/or extracellular spaces of the brain) contributed to the businessman’s demise.
The eldest daughter of the dead businessman, Sherene Mongroo, of New York was granted permission by the court to intervene in the matter between Sasedai Kumari Persaud (respondent) who is a paid employee holding a supervisory position at the Horseshoe Racing Service and Indranie Mulchand who worked as a maid and who later claimed to be the man’s reputed wife.
When he was admitted to St Joseph Mercy Hospital his marital status was single.
According to Sherene, reports disclosed that the first time there was any indication of Indranie Mulchand being the reputed wife was after the post mortem.
Previously a form that was filled out to give consent for a blood transfusion by Indranie Mulchand did not indicate in the line of relationship that she is the common law wife or reputed wife.
Records before the court now show that Ms Mulchand was listed on another occasion as a family friend, in the bracket of nearest relatives.
However two wills have surfaced. An affidavit of the Supreme Court revealed that Sherene Mongroo is alleging that the circumstances surrounding the signing of a will and testament by her father, three days before he died, in the presence of two medical doctors at St Joseph Mercy Hospital is wholly suspicious and most fraudulent although both doctors signed as witnesses to the will.
Sherene Mongroo, who sought filed the affidavit said that she only heard of her father’s demise by way of a phone call.
Sasedai Kumari Persaud, in the contested will and testament, assumed sole ownership, management and control of the Horseshoe Racing Service and the net proceeds of the business apportioned to net to the extent of 55 per cent while the remaining 45 per cent of the net proceeds be appointed to Indranie Mulchand for their sole use and benefit.
Hospital records indicate that Dr. Kumar who is employed at St Joseph Mercy Hospital and also a signatory witness to the will noted that Yusuf Mongroo could not have been compos mentis (sane) or with testamentary capacity when the alleged last will and testament was made.
The other doctor who signed as a witness was Dr. Rohan Jabour who is a pediatrician at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. The same pair of doctors signed as witness to another will that bequeath Sasedai Kumari Persaud of 39, Sideline Dam, Middle Road La Penitence the sole executrix and trustee of his estate in Barbados.
Dr. Nehaul Singh the Government Pathologist also noted in a supporting affidavit that Yusuf Mongroo’s mental and motor functions would have been impaired at the time of his hospitalization as a result of various illnesses he suffered.
Records indicated that Mr. Mongroo also suffered from diabetes, enteritis (inflammation of the intestines) and bronco-pneumonia.
Another medical report by Dr. A. Abdebari stated that Mr. Mongroo could have not comprehended anything while he was an inpatient at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, since he died from Cerebral Edema.
The report further stated that Mr. Mongroo was hospitalised at Woodlands Hospital from July 20, 2010 and was discharged on August 1, 2010.  He was kept at home.
Then his condition became critical and he was admitted to St Joseph Mercy Hospital on August 9, 2010. He died on August 15, 2010.
It was also revealed that Sasedai Kumari Persaud came up with a second will which was signed on  August 12, 2010 which was the same day the fist will was also singed.
The second will bequeathed to her several million US dollars in assets of the deceased business in Barbados.
The affidavit contends that Sherene Mongroo was in constant contact with her father over the period 1990 to 2010 which included visits to the USA to spend time with her, the sworn affidavit stated that Mr. Mongroo did indicate that Indranie Mulchand and her sister were caretakers of his property at 107 New Garden Street, Queenstown, Georgetown in which Mongroo never slept because of his fear of being robbed and injured.
Instead, he chose to sleep at nights in an apartment at Palm Court on Main Street before it was taken over by new management. He then resorted to sleeping at other hotels on occasions.
“I am well aware of my father’s assets, buildings, horses, and bank accounts. He indeed is a very wealthy man, with such assets being in a number of Caribbean countries totaling several million U.S dollars.
“He told me about these when we spoke on the phone, and when I met him in Miami in 2009 November and again June 2010. My father never would have disinherited me and my sister and divide all his assets to total strangers as the alleged will is purporting. He always mentioned to me that I will be a very wealthy woman when he dies…” Sherene Mongroo stated in her affidavit.
Sherene Mongroo’s attorney, Khemraj Ramjattan, told this publication in an invited comment that the case has highlighted the quality of some of the doctors in Guyana. Some would go to the lengths knowing there are people in hospital that are very ill and end up making wills for them.
He said that certain lawyers will fabricate wills knowing that there are genuine and legitimate heirs. “It bespeaks of a lot of evil and a lot of greed in my opinion.”

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