The investigation into the death of a couple at their home in a secluded area in Sigatoka in February 2, 2021, has made a breakthrough.

This is after a 24-year-old farmer was announced to front court today over his alleged involvement in the couple’s murder and will appear at the Magistrates Court in Sigatoka.

The deaths were classified by Police as murder. Making the announcement at the Police Headquarters in Laucala Beach in Suva, Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said the suspect was from the same area and was in Police custody.

He said they managed to apprehend the suspect after some items belonging to the deceased couple were allegedly found at his home.

“Investigators were able to trace the digital footprint and movement of the stolen mobile phone which resulted in the questioning of more than approximately 30 people,” he said.

“Video recording interviews and video reconstructions of the alleged incidents were conducted to ensure proper transparency and accountability of the distribution.”

He said a medical check on the suspect was conducted before the start of the interview.

Brigadier-General Qiliho also said the case file was given to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the charges to be sanctioned.

The file was returned recently.

The investigation was possible with help provided from the mobile service providers in the country.

“The use of technology narrowed down to the suspect’s alleged involvement,” he said.

“Investigations take time and patience. Investigators are told not to rush or to give in to pressure from some external parties.”

Brigadier-General Qiliho said there would be an announcement soon on other murder investigations.

Background

On February 2, 2021, the bodies of a retired couple, Sesha Reddy and Mirdu Chandra, were allegedly found motionless in a pool of blood – one on the bed, the other on the floor.

The discovery was made by the couple’s housemaid and caretaker, who were also a couple.

They two claimed that they waited outside the couple’s residence to be let into the property.

They claimed that they called the couple several times but to no avail until the husband checked the back of the house where he claimed to have discovered something out of the ordinary and further discovery of the dead.

The matter was reported to Police and investigations continued from then.

It is said that the deceased couple had settled in the United States but travelled to Fiji regularly to take care of some business interests.

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