Police start probe on body found in Vitogo drain

Police are conducting house-to-house enquiry in Vitogo, Lautoka, in an effort to identify a body found in a roadside drain on Saturday night.

Police said the body was of an unidentified iTaukei man.

“The male was found lying motionless in a drain,” Police said.

A Vitogo resident, Savenaca Seru, said he first noticed a foul smell on Friday while walking along a sugarcane tramline near the roadside on his way to mow grass at a nearby property.

“At first, I thought it was a dog that had been hit by a vehicle,” Mr Seru said.

He did not investigate further at the time and returned home.

On Saturday, while walking along the same path to mow grass at another residence, Mr Seru noticed the smell had become stronger.

“When I went back in the evening, I decided to check where the smell was coming from. “I saw what looked like a body lying in the grass. From the clothing, I could tell it was a male.”

He returned home to put away his equipment and asked two nearby friends to accompany him to check the area.

“They went closer but could not identify the person. We believed the body had been there for a few days,” he said.

One of the men was sent to alert the police.

“Police arrived a few minutes later, and officers from the Lautoka Police Station took the body away,” Mr Seru said.

Police said initial information suggests the death may be linked to a hit-and-run incident, after vehicle parts were found near the scene. Efforts to identify the victim are continuing.

“Investigations continue,” Police said.