Saraswatee Mootia, a 60-year-old woman, was found dead in her vegetable plantation in Triolet on Friday, September 18. According to reports, she had left her home that morning to tend to her plantation, but failed to return. Her son became worried and went to the plantation, where he found her body lying on the ground, several meters from the entrance. Mootia had sustained multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the Mediclinic in Triolet.
An investigation was launched into Mootia's murder, and police arrested Radhakrishna Mooneesawmy, 52, on Sunday, September 20. During interrogation, Mooneesawmy allegedly claimed that the murder was motivated by a dispute over a commission he was owed by Mootia. He reportedly told police that he had helped facilitate the sale of one of Mootia's properties earlier this year and was promised a commission, but Mootia had refused to pay him.
According to Mooneesawmy's account, he had repeatedly requested the commission from Mootia, but she had refused to pay. He allegedly told police that Mootia's refusal to pay him led to the dispute that ultimately resulted in her murder. Mooneesawmy was charged with murder and appeared in court on September 21, where he was provisionally inculpated and remanded in police custody.
The Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) is investigating the case and verifying Mooneesawmy's version of events. Police are working to establish whether the property transaction mentioned by Mooneesawmy actually took place and whether the dispute over the commission was the motive for the murder. The MCIT is also reviewing footage from security cameras, which reportedly shows Mooneesawmy scouting the area around Mootia's plantation two days before the murder.
Further investigation revealed that Mooneesawmy was seen near the plantation on the morning of the murder, shortly after 7 am. Confronted with the evidence, Mooneesawmy allegedly confessed to the crime, acknowledging his involvement in Mootia's murder. The post-mortem examination revealed that Mootia had died from strangulation.
The case has raised concerns about the safety of residents in Triolet, and police are urging anyone with information about the murder to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding Mootia's death. Mooneesawmy is currently being held in police custody pending further investigation.
The murder of Saraswatee Mootia has sent shockwaves through the community, and her family is still coming to terms with her tragic death. The police investigation is focused on establishing the facts surrounding the case, and Mooneesawmy's role in the murder.
Key points
- A 52-year-old man, Radhakrishna Mooneesawmy, has been arrested and charged with the murder of Saraswatee Mootia, 60, in Triolet, Mauritius.
- The suspect allegedly claimed that the murder was motivated by a dispute over a commission he was owed by the victim.
- The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding Mootia's death.
