GIVE HIM A CHANCE

Paroled ‘monster’ to work in a funeral parlour

A FUNERAL parlour owner says he is willing to give the man dubbed a “notorious monster” a chance to prove that he has changed for the better.

Rajesh Maharaj, a director at eThekwini Funeral Services in Durban, said although he was yet to meet Dhevapragasen (Dean) Munsamy, he wanted to help him reintegrate into society.

Munsamy is due to be released on parole next Thursday.

He has served 18 years of his effective 30-year sentence for kidnapping, raping and killing 10-year-old Natasha Sukdeo 18 years ago.

The crime shocked the community of Bayview, Chatsworth.

Last month the parole board told Natasha’s mother, Sharon Jeenabhai, 46, pictured, and her attorney, Simmi Sharma, that it planned to release Munsamy from Ncome Prison in Vryheid next Thursday.

In a face-to-face encounter at the hearing Jeenabhai called Munsamy, who used to live three doors away from her, a notorious monster.

She repeated the words in appeal documents filed with the parole board recently.

The board is expected to inform Jeenabhai and her attorney of its decision in the coming days.

Maharaj said yesterday he had assisted about six paroled prisoners over the past few years with jobs and accommodation.

He said the late parolee, Stars Govender, who was released last year after serving a lengthy jail term for murder had worked at his parlour after he was released.

“Govender was murdered last year. He got Munsamy to write a letter to me. In the letter Munsamy said he had paid the price for his crime and was a changed person. He appealed for a job and accommodation. I trust that the parole board have done their job properly and that Munsamy is rehabilitated. I have not met him in person.

“I am going purely by what the board has recommended. I am a father and feel for the little girl’s family. The board is going to have an electronic device fitted on Munsamy. If he messes up again, prison will be his home for some time to come,’’ said Maharaj.

Munsamy was convicted and jailed by retired Judge Jan Hugo. The Durban High Court heard Munsamy had abducted Natasha in 1995 while she was on her way to buy sweets from a shop for an excursion. He kept her in a cellar for three days, raped and murdered her.

Munsamy, who was a member of the search party which looked for Natasha, threw her body over his neighbour's wall.