Shine a Light: Former Sex Worker Denies Involvement In Salesh Chand Murder

A former sex worker was last seen with the late Salesh Chand, a Police source close to the investigation has confirmed.
Mr Chand was the Vinod Patel & Company Ltd regional manager for the Western Division.
Charred remains were found inside the company vehicle that he used. It was about 3am on July 8, 2016.
The charred frame of his maroon SUV was found parked at the FSC compound.
Speaking to Shine a Light, the former sex worker recalls that Police had said the security guard at FSC had seen a woman walking along the tramline towards the city at the time.
Shine a Light has chosen not to identify the former sex worker for legal reasons.
The informed Police source said they had questioned the former sex worker multiple times.
However, she denies any involvement in the death of Mr Chand.

The former sex worker who is alleged to be involved in the murder of Salesh Chand. Photo: Ivamere Nataro
Mr Chand was heavily intoxicated when he picked up the former sex worker from Narara parade on the night of the incident, the informed Police source said.
Mr Chand had been drinking with a male work colleague at his home in Kashmir. It was around 1:30am when they had decided to buy more alcohol.
Mr Chand’s work colleague drove them to the popular “Corner Shop” in Lautoka. Sources close to the former sex worker said she was usually found standing around the corner shop.
Upon arrival at the corner shop, the man got off to buy alcohol. He noticed that Mr Chand was on the phone, before he drove off.
The night of the incident was the first time the young former sex worker had met Mr Chand, the informed Police source said.
It is understood that Mr Chand was a familiar face around the Lautoka City area. Upon picking up the former sex worker, Mr Chand drove them to the FSC compound, the informed Police source said.
They were kissing and sexually caressing each other before Mr Chand dozed off, the informed Police source said. He was seated in the driver’s seat.
Soon after, the former sex worker left Mr Chand in the car and walked away to buy bread… to read the full account from our Shine A Light Investigative Reporter and Editor Ivamere Nataro by subscribing to the Fiji Sun e-edition.
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- Shine A Light is the Fiji Sun Investigative Project
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