Three held over missing French duo

A well at Matemwe Ward in Unguja North where two French  citizens are believed to be buried.  PHOTO | MWINYI SADALLAH 

By Mwinyi Sadalla, The Citizen Correspondent

In Summary

Francois Cherer Robert Daniel and Brigette Mery were last seen late last year. News that they had gone missing started circulating on December 27.

Zanzibar.Police here are holding three people in connection with the disappearance of a French couple believed to have been killed and dumped in a well in the compound of their house.

Francois Cherer Robert Daniel and Brigette Mery were last seen late last year. News that they had gone missing started circulating on December 27.

Their neighbours in Matwemwe Ward, Northern Unguja, said they got alarmed when the main gate of the compound remained open all the time. There was also no sign of anyone coming in or going out.

Their fears that something was amiss were confirmed when an odour started leaking out of the well in the compound, attracting flies. The neighbours reported their concerns to the police and preliminary investigations were launched. The well was then opened up, confirming that human bodies had been dumped in the well.

When this reporter visited the compound along Matwemwe beach, the investigators were busy combing the area for clues. Along with the Fire Brigade, the police were also trying to break the concrete cover of the well in an attempt to get to the bodies.

The Director of Criminal Investigations in the Isles, Mr Yussuf Ilembo, said the operation was meant to establish whether the bodies in the well were those of the missing couple.

 

Three people are already in custody in connection with the disappearance of the French nationals, he said. “The excavation is going on and we have discovered some body parts, but it will take some time to exhume all the body parts because of the concrete layer covering the well,” he added.

Records indicate that the couple entered Zanzibar legally and bought the house sometime last year. “The neighbours noticed that the main door of the house was open and there was a heavy smell accompanied by flies coming from the house,” said Denge Khamis Silima. “When they got in, they found the dog that belonged to the couple dead. We rushed to police and made a report.”