Kogie Adilutchmee Moodley.
Image: Yoshini Perumall
A CHATSWORTH caregiver accused of plotting to kill the husband of a stroke patient she was hired to care for, made her first appearance in the Durban High Court.
Adilutchmee “Kogie” Moodley, 55, of Welbedacht East, was arrested and charged for the murder of 56-year-old Stephen Narayanasamy Chetty, who was allegedly drugged and strangled in April last year. It has been alleged she did this to rob him.
She was also charged with forgery and defeating the course of justice.
It is alleged that Moodley created a memorandum of agreement purporting to transfer all property to her from Chetty and his wife should he die. Chetty’s signature was allegedly forged on the document.
Moodley, who was hired as caregiver for Chetty’s wife, and her son, Delon Moodley, 25, were arrested in August last year.
However, the charges against Delon were later withdrawn in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court.
Stephen Narayanasami Chetty
Image: Supplied
The State, which is represented by senior advocate Krishen Shah, has alleged that the murder was premeditated and pre-planned.
Moodley appeared in the Durban High Court last week.
According to the indictment's summary of substantial facts, Chetty, who also lived in Welbedacht East, operated a money-lending business and tuckshop.
Chetty’s wife had suffered a stroke and required a caregiver.
In 2023, Moodley commenced employment with Chetty as a caregiver to his wife. She also assisted him in his business.
According to the court papers, upon his invitation, at some stage thereafter, Moodley and her family took up residence with Chetty and his wife.
It is alleged that Chetty and Moodley became romantically involved.
According to the court papers, she allegedly decided to kill Chetty so that she could take control and ownership of his property and finances.
The papers stated that Moodley allegedly sought help from the neighbours to procure substances and medicines to be used to incapacitate Chetty.
It is alleged that on April 24, Moodley gave Chetty the substances, and strangled him once he was incapacitated.
According to the court papers, the following morning, Moodley reported Chetty as having died.
It is alleged that she falsely advised the paramedics that he had complained of chest pains, and he was certified as dead, with said medical history as reported by Moodley.
According to the court papers, Moodley thereafter visited a doctor to certify Chetty’s death as being natural.
It said: “The accused (Moodley) thereafter attended Dr D Pillay where she advised him that the deceased (Chetty), being her brother, experienced breathing difficulties and a heart attack, and produced the paramedics' report she obtained earlier. Against this, the doctor certified the deceased’s death as being natural.”
According to the court papers, upon hearing of his death, Chetty’s family attended the mortuary, and being suspicious of the surrounding circumstances, inspected his body.
They observed fresh injuries on his neck.
According to the court papers, they immediately reported to the police and to Pillay, who withdrew his certificate after inspecting Chetty’s body.
A subsequent post-mortem examination of Chetty’s body established his case of death as “consistent with strangulation”.