Investigations into businessman Dinesh Schaffter’s death have revealed that a text message had been sent from the victim’s phone to another individual by the suspect, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said.
According to the Daily News, the CID investigations have revealed that a text message from Schaffter’s mobile phone had been sent to popular cricket commentator Brian Thomas from the Borella Cemetary asking to meet.
CID probe has further revealed that the car in which Dinesh Schaffter travelled came directly to the Borella Cemetery from his home in Flower Road on the day he was murdered (15).
According to the CID probe, Schaffter had left his home at around 2.06 pm and the crime had taken place half an hour after his departure, and a text message had been sent to Brian Thomas at around 2.30 pm.
“CCTV footage shows Schaffter’s vehicle reaching the Borella Cemetery after leaving his house. There is no indication of anyone having gotten into the vehicle on the way. Someone who has extensive knowledge of the Borella cemetery is involved in this crime,” CID sources said.
The sources further said suspicions over the crime have arisen based on the text message that was sent to Brian Thomas and if attempts were underway to frame him over the murder.
Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that statements have been obtained from 23 persons, including members of Schaffter’s family and employees of the Borella Cemetery.
The statements have been recorded by the officers of the Organized Crime and Homicide Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department, which is conducting the investigation into this murder.
The Police Spokesman also said that Schaffter had shared the facility of sharing his location through the phone with his business partner, aside from his wife.
Schaffter’s business partner had found him seriously injured at the Borella cemetery after being informed by Schaffter’s wife of his disappearance.
Police investigations have further revealed that Schaffter’s business associate had told the police that Dinesh Schaffter told him he was going to meet Brian Thomas.
During investigations, Brian Thomas has told the police about the text message he had received asking to meet at or around 2.30 pm that day but had declined the offer.
SSP Thalduwa said that investigations show that upon receiving the message, Brian Thomas had declined the offer to meet, adding that security cameras at his house prove that he had not left his house during this period.
The two phones have been taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department and forwarded to the Computer Forensic Laboratory.
SSP Thalduwa said that the CID is conducting investigations based on scientific as well as technical evidence and hope to quickly arrest the suspects. (NewsWire)