Surviving Crew Tell of Horror

The sea was rough. The alleged killer of a Tiro II crew member was unforgiving.

On the deck of the fishing vessel, five of the eight crew members were oblivious to their fate. It was Wednesday night, May 19, 2021, between 8pm and 9pm.

It was just another night on the grind. The crew members reeled in the fishing net on the side of the boat. The alleged killer presumed his workmates planned to kill him.

He went on the offensive and attacked first.

Without thinking, he used an axe to behead Qiritavabea Cagilabakomeli. It took only one swing from the back of the late Mr Cagilabakomeli’s head.

The alleged killer then forced four other crew members to jump overboard. They were without lifejackets. What led to the tragic fate of five crew members on board the Tiro II fishing vessel, and to this day remains a mystery.

What also overcame the alleged killer remains unknown. It is believed that an argument had erupted between Mr Cagilabakomeli and Mitieli Cama.

But one of the survivors said there was no argument. Shine a Light approached the three survivors of the horrific incident.

They all spoke on the condition of not being identified and insisted that it was now a Police case, and they wouldn’t divulge any more information.

To them, it was just like yesterday. Tiro II had eight crew members. The vessel left Millers Wharf for a 14-day fishing trip in the Mamanuca waters.

It was a smooth sail with the crew gelling well – only two were new to the work.

But things took a wrong turn on the third last day of the fishing trip, with five of the crew members never to see their family again.

INVESTIGATION

Police have yet to make an arrest regarding the incident. The incident happened in the Mamanuca Waters, 143 kilometres West of Nadi.

It’s been 10 months. Shine a Light has been reliably informed that there is no direct evidence to lead the investigation.

However, Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said they were still investigating the case. The vessel belonged to Green Tuna Company, a locally-based Korean-owned company.

It sank two days after the incident, on Friday 21 May, after taking in water.

THOSE INVOLVED

There were eight crew members on board the vessel – five Fijians and three Indonesians.

The victims were:

1. Alfat Kodri (Chief Officer/Cook);
2. Eme Warma (Chief Engineer);
3. Benjamin Semuel Mattaputty (Captain);
4. Qiritavabea Cagilabakomeli (Crew); and
5. Samuela Sukera (Crew).

The three who survived and are suspects in the case are:

1. Mitieli Cama (Bosun);
2. Kaminieli Tacama (Crew); and
3. Tevita Qaqa Kapawale (Crew).

Shine a Light understands this is the first case of its kind to happen in the Fiji waters.

BACKGROUND

It was part of the plan that the Tiro travel for two weeks to the Mamanucas for a fishing trip. The other two days were for travelling.

The crew members had a good working relationship. They bonded well, the survivors said.

The events that took place shocked two of the survivors. They both have more than 20 years of experience working on fishing boats.

They said it was their experience that saved them, they both hid inside different parts of the boat.

We have been reliably informed that the vessel was transmitting a catch report every morning between May 11 and 17.

However, on the 18th of May, no catch report was transmitted from the vessel. Attempts to get a response from the crew were unsuccessful the day before the incident was unsuccessful.

There was nil response from inside the vessel. It was the next day that the Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre was alerted of an incident onboard the vessel.

One of the survivors was found on a life-raft. He was found by a New Zealand Air Force aircraft and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division ship MV Kikau.

The two men found aboard the Tiro II were rescued by Samweon II (Tiro’s sister vessel) on Friday (21/5/21).

Shine a Light understands this is the first case of its kind to happen in the Fiji waters