A post-mortem examination conducted yesterday on the body of 29-year-old Arifa Muntazali which was found in a trench at Chesney Backdam proved to be inconclusive due to the advanced state of decomposition and her lover is expected to be charged.

Arifa Muntazali

Muntazali who lived with her husband, Farook Muntazali at Queenstown, Corriverton was laid to rest yesterday at her mother’s home at Number 64 Village, Corentyne.

The man with whom she shared an extramarital relationship has admitted to killing her and will be charged shortly, police sources say. The man who had at first denied knowing her whereabouts told police at first that the woman had hanged herself.

He later took investigators to where the body was and at that stage he confessed that he had killed her. Her body was found in a trench with her hands tied behind her back.

He was wanted following reports that she was “kidnapped” and had been arrested on June 21. Muntazali who would have celebrated her 30th birthday on Monday left her marital home on May 22.

Her husband had told this newspaper that the woman did not inform him she was leaving home. When he called her the same day she told him she had gone to a friend’s religious function and would be home later.

The following day he called again and she said she was coming the next day “for sure, no matter how late.” She never showed up but early the next morning she called and related that she wanted to return home but that someone had “kidnapped” her.

He said the woman sounded like she was being held against her will and when he tried to question her further the call was disconnected.

The matter was reported to the police on May 30 and according to a press release the man was arrested on June 21 at Parika, East Bank Essequibo.