Derek Achong
Senior Reporter
A group of family and friends, who claimed that they were defrauded by popular social media influencer Israel “Markos” Mark, have obtained a default judgment against him.
Kavita Ragoonanan, Kumar and Asha Seegulam, Vitra Maraj and Kavita, Satesh and Savitra Maharaj obtained the judgment, late last month, after Mark failed to defend the lawsuit over an investment scheme brought by them in 2024.
The exact compensation to be paid by Mark to the group will be assessed at a later date.
In the lawsuit, the group’s lawyers Joseph Sookoo and Kamini Ramraj claimed that Ragoonanan met Mark in 2023 after being referred by a friend.
“The opportunity had been described to her, both by her friend and by the intended defendant, as a means of sustainable, no-risk wealth creation which had been, up to that point, successful for the said friend,” Ramraj said.
Ramraj claimed that Ragoonanan was invited to enter into a “contractual membership” in an exclusive social club called Moolah Caribbean.
According to her, the terms of the membership included the payment of an initial $25,000 “contribution”, and Ragoonanan was promised a variety of services, including professional consultancy, protective services, currency exchange, vehicle importing, luxury charters and public relations services.
“However, the primary benefit of this membership was a monthly cash back of ten per cent of the ‘membership value’, with such cash back being payable at the end of every calendar month,” she said.
“Further, by the said membership, the member was entitled, upon its termination, to receive the full payment of all sums paid under the membership within 15 days thereafter,” she added.
Attracted by the cash back feature, Ragoonanan signed up and made the initial payment.
Ramraj admitted that her client received a $2,500 payment a month after joining.
She claimed that Ragoonanan was invited to join a WhatsApp group with other members, where she learned of a “referral” programme under which members would be paid $10,000 for every four new members they recruit.
Ragoonanan made an additional $75,000 and recruited her family and friends, named in the case.
Some of her family and friends made the initial payment, while others paid $100,000.
In total, Ragoonanan and the persons recruited by her paid $550,000.
Ramraj claimed that Ragoonanan and her recruits never received the cash back payment.
She alleged that in July 2023, Mark allegedly sent two letters indicating that the company was being investigated by an unnamed party and the company may enter into a partnership or be purchased by another third party.
“By the said correspondences, the intended defendant suggested that ‘banks may seize Moolah Caribbean’s funds, and that this partnership/purchase may better secure the return of your investments’”, Ramraj said.
The WhatsApp group was eventually closed by Mark.
“By this time, he complained that certain parties in the group had disclosed their complaints on social media platforms and jeopardised, not only the alleged partnership/purchase of Moolah Caribbean, but also prevented him from taking the steps required to rectify the complaints regarding payment,” Ramraj said.
Ragoonanan and her recruits made official requests for repayment, which went unanswered.
Ramraj accused Mark of using deliberate misrepresentations to defraud her clients.
“Further, they also hold the view that you created and used a variety of incorporated and unincorporated bodies to clothe the fraudulent and unethical nature of your scheme in a veneer of respectability,” Ramraj said.
