Edward Nand, who is facing murder charges, has denied allegations of sending explicit videos and nude pictures of his ex-girlfriend to Narend Chand and two others while impersonating her for money.
Nand and Salimoni Lagicere are currently on trial for the alleged murder of Narend Chand, a Fiji-born Canadian, in Tailevu last February.
During the proceedings on Wednesday, DPP prosecutor Zenith Zunaid asserted that during a caution interview, Mr. Nand claimed his ex-girlfriend, Leba Ratabacaca, had threatened to leave him if he was not financially stable.
Mr. Zunaid argued that this led Mr. Nand to concoct a scheme to scam people abroad by using a feminine voice to impersonate Ms. Ratabacaca.
The court heard that Ms. Ratabacaca allegedly sent explicit videos and nude pictures to Mr. Nand, who then threatened to post the content online if she left him.
Mr. Nand denied distributing these explicit contents, which he referred to as “goodies,” to three men in exchange for payments through M-PAiSA and Western Union.
Mr. Zunaid maintained that Ms. Ratabacaca had provided truthful evidence and had no part in the scheme devised by Mr. Nand and Mr. Lagicere.
Prosecutors stated that Ms. Ratabacaca left Mr. Nand on February 20, 2023, and from February 23 to 27, he conducted various searches for online pornography.
Mr. Nand claimed he could not recall these searches and suggested that other household members might have had access to his phone.
However, he did confirm that a plan was made to speak to Mr. Chand, but denied any intentions to kill him if the plan failed.
Mr. Zunaid argued that in a video interview, Mr. Nand deliberately omitted telling the police that he had purchased an electrical cord, implying that he had premeditated the murder.
While Mr. Nand admitted to striking Chand three times on the shoulder, the prosecutor claimed that there were ten “hard punches” to the victim’s face and head, while Mr. Lagicere was allegedly strangling him with the cord.
Mr. Zunaid further alleged that during the assault, Mr. Nand instructed Mr. Lagicere in iTaukei, saying, “punch him nicely my brother, so he dies.”
Mr. Nand denied accusations that his father assisted in disposing of the body, instead claiming that his girlfriend did. To substantiate this, he mentioned that his father reported him to the Nausori Police Station on February 21.
Mr. Zunaid accused Mr. Nand of being evasive and lying under oath, asserting that he played a significant role in the assault.
Additionally, Mr. Nand admitted to making false statements during the five-hour caution interview, alleging that he was threatened and assaulted.
Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull has adjourned the case to August 16.