Isoof Maintains Denial

Muhammed Isoof says he did not murder Nirmal Kumar and his family. This came to light during cross-examination when prosecution put to the accused that he had murdered the family.

This was during the Nausori Highlands murder trial presided by Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe at the High Court in Lautoka.

The Charges:

Muhammed Raheesh Isoof is alleged to have murdered Nirmal Kumar, 63, his wife Usha Devi, 54, their daughter Nileshni Kajal, 34, and Ms Kajal’s daughters Sanah Singh, 11, Samarah Singh, 8 at Nausori Highlands in August 2019.

He also denies one count of attempted murder of Samaira Kumar who was found abandoned near the bodies of five deceased persons at Nausori Highlands.

Representations:

The State prosecutors are Semi Babitu, Taitusi Tuenuku, and Prenika Lata from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The defence counsel is Iqbal Khan from Iqbal Khan and Associates.

Trial Day 13: Cross-Examination:

Muhammed Raheesh Isoof

Mr Babitu asked the witness whether he was so respected that whatever he told the family, they would believe him.

He also asked if the family took advice from him about their finances.

Isoof said they took advice for everything.

He said the day Nirmal Kumar went to the Bank South Pacific (BSP), he had called him to ask how to withdraw from a fixed deposit account.

Mr Babitu asked the witness to confirm that on August 21, 2019, Mr Kumar had called him from BSP,

Isoof said yes.

Mr Babitu asked the witness that because of that trust he had formed, he had become a very influential member.

Isoof said it was just for respect. He said that he knew of the trip about three days beforehand however, he did not know it was to Nausori Highlands.

Mr Babitu asked the witness to tell the court of the sitting arrangement in his rental vehicle.

Isoof said Mr Kumar was seated in the front passenger seat with the little baby while Sanah and Samarah were seated in the back middle and Kajal and Usha on either side of the back seat.

Mr Babitu asked the witness whether he had been to Nausori Highlands before.

Isoof said yes and since 1977, he had been to Nausori Highlands numerous times.

Mr Babitu asked the witness if he was familiar with the terrain at Nausori Highlands.

He replied that Nausori Highlands was a very big place and the scenery place was his favourite.

Mr Babitu then asked him if the crime scene was his favourite place.

Isoof replied no, the scenery place was his favourite and not the crime scene.

Prosecution’s evidence

Mr Babitu said the prosecution’s evidence stated that the photos of Isoof taken at the crime scene were at 10am.

Isoof said he was with the family in Nausori Highlands at 11am and not at 10am.

Mr Babitu said the cybercrime unit officer Corporal Savenaca Siwatibau had stated that the photos were taken at 10am.

Isoof disputed the time and said it was incorrect.

Mr Babitu asked Isoof if he had agreed that his photos were taken at the crime scene.

Isoof said that the death happened at the cliff a bit lower than the place he stood in the photo and he was not present at the crime scene with Nirmal and his family on August 25, 2019.

Mr Babitu referred to the audio recording found on Mr Kumar’s mobile phone and put to the witness that it was his voice in the audio recording.

Isoof said it could not be his voice.

Mr Babitu then asked Isoof whether he knew that the family had visited witch doctors.

Isoof said Mr Kumar and Usha had told him that they had been going to witchdoctors as something happened at their house and they suspected Rajesh for it.

Mr Babitu then asked the witness that as per the prosecution’s evidence from Detective Corporal Semi Vuniwai, Isoof had an affair with Kajal.

Isoof said no.

Mr Babitu asked the witness that he had also informed DC Vuniwai that Kajal was seated in front and was mixing some chemicals.

Isoof said DC Vuniwai made the story and claimed that he was a corrupted officer.

Mr Babitu then put to the accused that he wanted to blame everything on Kajal.

Isoof said it was a lie and asked why he would blame her when she was suffering so much.

Mr Babitu then put to Isoof that he was the person who murdered the family.

He said he did not murder them as he was close to the family.