The father of Afroz Khan, a young man who has been missing since November 27, remains unconvinced that the body discovered by the police on Monday evening belongs to his son. Auyub Khan shared that he last saw Afroz when they traveled from Nadi with a group of 24 people to collect unregistered vehicles from the Suva Port.
Afroz separated from the group to meet an individual named Edward Nand at a Mobil Service Station in Sawani to inspect a vehicle he found on Facebook Marketplace. Mr. Khan recounted that during a phone call, Afroz indicated he was on his way back but later contacted his sister-in-law, urging her to bring $35,000 or face threats to his life.
Efforts by the family to report Afroz’s disappearance at the Nausori Police Station were met with resistance, redirecting them to a different station, the Central Police Station. Mr. Khan expressed frustration over the lack of updates from the police, alleging that he was only informed of his son’s body being found through a relative, rather than law enforcement.
Upon visiting the Colonial War Memorial Hospital to identify the body, Mr. Khan was only allowed in, despite requesting that his daughter-in-law, who might better recognize her husband, also be permitted entry. He described seeing a bald individual without distinguishing features resembling Afroz’s curly hair and beard; thus, he could not confirm the identity. The police collected DNA samples for testing to verify the body’s identity.
Afroz’s wife, Shazia Nisha, voiced her distress, claiming that prompt police action could have led to her husband’s recovery. She reported receiving a phone call from alleged captors, describing their voices and their subsequent warning that they were aware of her identity. A man who identified as Edward Nand’s brother also contacted her, initially promising to search for her husband, but later mentioned that police involvement had deterred him from further inquiries.
Shazia asserted that if she had been allowed to view the body, she could have identified her husband, given their close relationship. The police informed the family that DNA test results would take up to six weeks.
In response to the family’s claims, Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew stated that he would investigate the alleged inaction of the police.
This situation shines a light on the critical need for timely and effective police responses to reports of missing persons. The Khan family’s ordeal underscores the importance of empathy and communication from law enforcement, particularly in cases of potential abduction and threats to life. The next few weeks may be challenging, but the hope remains that the truth will emerge and justice will be served.
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