The team of more than 40 Police investigating the murder of 39 year-old taxi driver Hiren Mohini in the early hours of Sunday, January 31, want to find the owner of a bag which was found near where he died and which has blood on it.
The bag [pic attached] is royal blue in colour with a black synthetic fabric shoulder strap. There is a logo written in white on the bag which has the capital letters "DA" above the words "Dicon Aibi". It's tubular in shape and measures 34cm in width and has a 19cm circumference.
"It's a medium-sized shoulder bag which also has a small handle of the same royal blue fabric on it and it was found in the View Rd area by a resident who called Police on Monday night," Detective Senior Sergeant Hywel Jones said.
"The logo is unusual and the bag itself does not belong to the resident or any of the immediate neighbours. Add to that the presence of the blood on it and I'd say it's fairly important we track down whoever left it in the neighbourhood or someone who knows who did.
"We don't know what the motivation was behind the frenzied knife attack that resulted in Mr Mohini's tragic death, but we have no reason to believe at this stage that it was robbery.
"He died at the end of a paltry $15.20 unpaid fare after about an eight minute journey from the city centre to View Rd in Mt Eden.
"We're keen to hear from anyone who might have seen a person carrying the bag we've recovered either in the city prior to or, getting into his Auckland Co-op taxi near Sky City, at about 1.12am on Sunday."
Other items of interest to the investigation were found near where Mr Mohini died, including a knife which is being forensically examined.
"It's possible clothing that is foreign to residents has been dumped in the area or that washing has gone missing off clothes lines. We need to hear about anything unusual, no matter how seemingly insignificant, which might help us track down whoever killed Mr Mohini."
Anyone with information can call 0800 444 014 - and their call will be followed up.
NOTE: Crimestoppers is an anonymous option on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589 Website: www.police.govt.nz
