Updated: 6:12am – Meli Sakia, a 40-year-old bachelor, went to Labasa Market on Saturday to sell his yaqonaand vegetables as he usually did.
But he never made it home later that day. His body was found near the entrance to the driveway of his home in Vunivau, Labasa on sunday. His uncle, Tomasi Bonaveidogo, 71, shook his head in disbelief when he heard Mr Sakia was dead.
“It was a cruel twist of fate for a man in his prime, enjoying life,” said Mr Bonaveidogo. “I am still shocked,” he said, describing the deceased as a “person who will not hurt a fly”.
Mr Bonaveidogo said at 7:30am on Sunday he saw a group of Police officers near his driveway. “My daughter told me they found Sakia’s dead body and advised me not to panic and don’t try to see the crime scene,” Mr Bonaveidogo said.
He said his nephew had been living with them for more than a year. His parents had died of natural deaths at separate times in the last 10 years.
“He used to sell at Labasa market and I don’t know where he was returning from on Saturday night,” Mr Bonaveidogo said.
Brija Nand, a neighbour living close to where the body was found, said around 3am he heard a loud cry ‘wailei’ (an exclamation of pain),” Mr Nand said. “I had returned from my brother’s place after midnight and I was lying down on my bed when I heard this strange voice.
“However, I didn’t stand up to check because it was too dark outside. “When I woke up the next morning I was shocked to see many Police officers. “Sakia was a very humble and kind man who would never utter a word to hurt anyone.
“He would only speak when someone spoke to him.” Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro, said the case hadn’t been classified as murder yet. “This is because we have to wait for the post-mortem examination,” Ms Naisoro said.
-Fiji Sun
Featured Image: Police at the scene where the late Meli Sakia’s body was discovered at Vunivau in Labasa on November 12, 2017. Photo: Shratika Singh
