Phoenix couple arrested for allegedly orchestrating father’s murder

A PHOENIX woman and her partner have been arrested on murder charges after they allegedly hired two vagrants to murder her father for R3 500.

Arthur "Brian" Ramsamy, a recently retired eThekwini Municipality employee, was found strangled in his Weylen Close, Lenham home on October 5.

Two additional suspects have also been arrested in connection with the case.

Ramsamy’s daughter, Nicola Ramsamy, and her partner, Brenden Sanichara, were arrested and charged with murder last week. 

They shared a home with the deceased.

The couple, who are represented by attorney Chris Gounden, made their first appearance in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The matter was adjourned for a formal bail application later this week, for all four accused. 

According to a source close to the investigation, on the day of the alleged murder, the couple had left the home during the early hours of the morning. 

“The woman’s partner, who has an e-hailing business, was supposedly called to do a pick-up from the Durban area. She accompanied him. Upon their return to their home, they found the deceased lying on the floor unresponsive,” the source said.

“Following the arrest of the two other people, who are known vagrants in the area, alleged they were paid about R3 500 by the couple to kill her father. The motive is not known at this stage.

“However, speculation is rife that the deceased recently received his pension pay-out after retiring,” claimed the source.  

Val Pillay, the interim chairperson of the Phoenix Community Policing Forum (CPF), said: “The Phoenix CPF is aware of the tragic incident involving the suspected murder of a senior community member.

“We urge the public to allow the investigative process to unfold and to refrain from speculation until verified information becomes available,” she said.  

Ramsamy’s funeral was held at his home on October 9.

At the time of the incident, Gareth Naidoo, spokesperson for KZNVIP, said when they got to the scene they found Ramsamy unresponsive and found possible signs of foul play.

“The family members expressed concerns that foul play may have been involved. Visible marks were noted on his neck, along with injuries to his face and nose, indicating possible strangulation."

Shortly thereafter, the two people believed to be vagrants were arrested and charged with murder. 

* In June, Lincoln Moodley, 24, was arrested for the murder of his mother and the attempted murder of his blind grandmother in a brutal attack at their Westham, Phoenix home.

Kamatchie Naicker, 83, and her daughter, Shirley Appalsamy, 63, were repeatedly stabbed with a large butcher’s knife. 

Naicker, a grandmother of nine, sustained multiple stab wounds and was declared dead by paramedics. 

Appalsamy, a mother of two, was also stabbed multiple times and her throat slit. It has been alleged that he attacked the women after they refused to give him money.  Moodley was arrested by Phoenix SAPS detectives in Amaoti, north of Durban, on June 10, a day after the incident.

The POST