Public urged to refrain from speculation

FIJI – Fiji’s Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni

Qiliho has urged members of the public to refrain from

speculating on the reasons behind the alleged murder and dismemberment of Russian couple Yuri Shipulin and Natalia near Nadi.

Responding to questions on whether the pair’s deaths were linked to organised crime activity, Brig-Gen Qiliho downplayed local speculations and rumours.

“We are in the early stages of investigations and we can’t link it to gang involvement,” he said

“I know there are a lot of speculations out there, but we appeal to members of the public and if they do know anything, to bring us that information rather than speculating.

“It might be the missing jigsaw puzzle to the whole picture, but it would be premature to draw any conclusion now.”

Brig-Gen Qiliho said police were looking into a number of other factors such as reasons behind the couple’s presence in Fiji, what form of investment they were involved in as well as what goods they were bringing into the country.

Meanwhile, divers from the Fiji Navy have been deployed to Natadola beach to help police officers search for more evidence.

There has been no comment on rumours of a chainsaw reported missing from the murdered couple’s vegetable farm.

- PNC