Catfishing Duo Gets Life Sentences
On the evening of February 19, 2023, the former couple’s plans to visit the girl’s village went awry after Chand was picked up from Waituri Village in Nausori.
Saturday 08 March 2025 | 12:53
Edward Nand and Salimoni Lagicere after their sentencing at the High Court in Suva on March 7. Photo: Leon Lord
The two men convicted of murder following a catfishing incident gone wrong in Nausori in 2023 have been sentenced to a mandatory life sentence.
Edward Nand, 28, and Salimoni Lagicere, 32, were sentenced by Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull at the High Court in Suva on Friday.
It was established that Nand had been catfishing Narend Chand from Canada, pretending to be Leba Ratabacaca, Nand’s ex-girlfriend.
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The catfishing scheme led Chand to travel to Fiji with the hope of meeting her.
On the evening of February 19, 2023, the former couple’s plans to visit the girl’s village went awry after Chand was picked up from Waituri Village in Nausori.
It was established that Lagicere and Nand parked the car in a secluded area, where Lagicere then strangled Chand with an electric cord bought by Nand.
The court heard that Nand threw several heavy punches at the victim’s face and chest until he was unconscious.
After reaching Rakiraki, Nand struck the victim with a steel pipe, causing his death.
They then threw the body into a river.
Ruling
In her ruling, Justice Bull said that the only meaningful mitigation in Lagicere’s favour was his clean record.
Other factors considered included his role as a farmer and his responsibility for caring for his mother.
For Nand, the court told him that he had embarrassed and shamed his family with what he did.
The court has considered their time spent in remand to be counted as period of sentence.
Lagicere will only be able to apply for pardon after 16 years has been served while Nand will serve a minimum of 18 years.
They have 30 days to appeal.
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