A FIJIAN family residing in Te Kuiti, Waikato in New Zealand, are under investigation for the death of their 10-month-old baby.
Baby Mustafa Ali, who allegedly died of violent blunt force trauma, had arrived unconscious at the Waikato town’s hospital on June 9.
According to Radio New Zealand (RNZ), the tight-knit Muslim community in Te Kūiti is in shock over the incident.
RNZ reported that Waikato police believe the baby was inflicted with the violent blunt force trauma on Saturday, and that he was already known to police for the non-accidental injuries he suffered last year.
The report said the baby’s father, Mukzameel Ali, and his wife moved to Te Kuiti in July last year.
Property owner Moshif Hussain told RNZ the baby was the “joy of the house”, and that he couldn’t believe what had happened.
“The community is really distressed because of how the baby is.
“Everyone likes to cuddle babies, so everyone had some kind of connection with the baby, so everyone is quite sad and they’re stressed, I would say, and worried about how it happened.
“So, yeah, it’s a very uneasy atmosphere at the moment.”
The owner of the Te Kūiti Mosque (also known as the Te Kūiti Islamic Centre), who only wants to be known as Ali, told RNZ Mukzameel Ali was the youngest among a number of men from Fiji who went to NZ to work at the local meatworks.
It’s understood Mukzameel Ali’s uncle lived at the house with the couple, and also worked at the meatworks.
Waikato police said the two flatmates were not at the family’s house on Saturday when the baby was fatally injured.
Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley earlier told RNZ they had spoken to the parents, but that he had concerns about inconsistencies between the family’s statements, and what police believe to have caused the injuries.
He said police were already investigating non-accidental injuries to Mustafa reported in October last year.
Police were appealing for information from the public in the area, particularly from anyone who heard screaming from the family’s house on Saturday afternoon.
