26 Sep 2019

NZ man facing murder charges further remanded in Fiji prison

From , 5:01 am on 26 September 2019

The New Zealand resident facing multiple murder charges has been remanded at Fiji's Lautoka High Court this morning.

The 62-year-old who is a Fiji citizen but had been driving buses in Christchurch, is charged with the murder of five members of the Kumar family in the Nausori Highlands who were discovered last month.

Muhammad Raheesh Isoof is also being charged with attempted murder of a one-year-old baby girl whose cries alerted a farmer to the scene at the top of high cliffs outside of Nadi on 26th August.

Judge Wimalasena remanded the accused in custody with the case deferred to 11 October after a state prosecutor asked for more time to file disclosures.

The dead man's brother, Raj Kumar who normally lives in Auckland, spoke to Jenny Meyer just after the accused's latest court appearance.

Police officers escort the murder suspect Muhammed Raheesh Isoof to the remand centre from Nadi Magistrates Court on September 18.

Police officers escort the murder suspect Muhammed Raheesh Isoof to the remand centre from Nadi Magistrates Court on September 18. Photo: Fiji Times/ REINAL CHAND