The Rhind family, whose Clifton home was petrol-bombed, an event followed by allegations of a conspiracy to have them killed, have left their Cape Town holiday home fearing further attack, according to their attorney, William Booth.
Hannah Rhind, 28, and her family thought their problems were over when Shumsheer Singh Ghumman was convicted as a stalker in the UK in September last year.
But last month, he was allegedly “on their doorstep” again, according to Booth.
Ghumman, 32, is an Australian who is based in London and is working as an equity fund manager.
He now faces charges of malicious damage to property, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arson in Cape Town.
This follows a January 14 petrol bomb attack on the Rhind’s Clifton home.
It is claimed that Ghumman followed Hannah Rhind and her family on their Cape Town holiday.
Hannah and her mother, Deborah Rhind, have left Cape Town for their London home because of recent events, said Booth.
He said Hannah Rhind was also expected to return to work in London where she is a public relations executive at a pharmaceuticals company.
“They have all left Cape Town. Hannah’s father, Philip, is in Angola on business but she (Hannah) left with her mother because of threats of petrol bombs and all the other events.
“I’m sure they would’ve stayed (in Cape Town) longer if this didn’t happen but they are all being cautious because they are very upset and distraught by this,” Booth said.
Booth added that the Rhind family wanted the matter to be concluded quickly because they had thought it was over in the UK last year with the stalker conviction but then he (Ghumman) “popped up on their doorstep again”.
After meeting at a social gathering in 2009, Ghumman would not stop contacting Rhind and he also contravened a formal harassment letter last year and was convicted as a stalker.
He was arrested on January 21 for the arson attack.
Ghumman allegedly also posed as a journalist to to make arrangements with a Cape Town journalist to meet hitmen.
Hannah’s father, Philip Rhind, is a high-ranking petroleum engineering executive and headed a number of local and international companies.
He is the chief executive officer of an Angolan oil, gas and mining company, Lussadisu Resources.
Before heading to Lussadisu Resources, Rhind was sacked as CEO from the Edinburgh- based oil and gas company, BowLeven in 2006.
He previously held CEO positions at Mvelaphanda Energy, a director position at HSBC Investment Banking and worked on petroleum assignments for Shell International Petroleum in the Netherlands, UK and Pakistan.
Ghumman is due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on February 24, once another identity parade has been conducted. - Cape Times