Wazil Ally Meerkhan and Dylan Bryan Josue Carman pleaded guilty on November 12, 2024, in the murder of police officer Dimple Raghoo. Aged 38 at the time of the events, she was killed in the exercise of her duties on November 24, 2020, in the parking lot of the Bo’Valon shopping center, in Mahébourg.
Wazil Ally Meerkhan, 29, admitted his guilt to murder of the policewoman and attempted murder of the policeman, Gilbert Benoit Arlanda. As for Dylan Bryan Josue Carman, 33, he pleaded guilty to assault and battery leading to the death of Dimple Raghoo, as well as assault and battery on Gilbert Benoit Arlanda. Their trial will be held in the Assize Court from November 19 to 22, 2024.
The two accused, originally from Port-Louis, are defended respectively by Mᵉ Sanjeev Teeluckdharry and Mᵉ Siddhartha Hawoldar.
An undercover operation that turns into a tragedy
On November 24, 2020, a “controlled delivery” operation took place in the shopping center parking lot around 5 p.m. Dimple Raghoo and her colleague, Gilbert Benoit Arlanda, operated undercover, posing as traffickers seeking to buy 600 grams of synthetic drugs, estimated at Rs 500,000.
Shortly after, the suspects arrived at the scene in a car. Wazil Ally Meerkhan was driving, while Dylan Bryan Josue Carman was in the passenger seat. Once the transaction was concluded, the police revealed their identities.
Crushed and dragged on the asphalt
Events took a tragic turn when Wazil Ally Meerkhan took off in a hurry to flee. The police, on foot and near the main gate of the shopping center, attempted to block access to block the vehicle. Ignoring their injunctions, Meerkhan rushed towards the exit, violently colliding with Gilbert Benoit Arlanda, then Dimple Raghoo.
Dimple Raghoo was knocked down and crushed. Her clothes got caught on the vehicle, dragging her several meters to the main road in Beau-Vallon. The two suspects then fled, but were quickly apprehended by police.
The autopsy concluded that Dimple Raghoo died from multiple injuries. His colleague, Gilbert Benoit Arlanda, was also seriously injured.
Drug Trial in Intermediate Court
Wazil Ally Meerkhan and Dylan Bryan Josue Carman also face charges in the Intermediate Court on two drug-related charges: “attempt to possess synthetic cannabinoid for the purpose of delivery” and “possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution”.
They are accused of being in possession of 519.6 grams of synthetic cannabinoid and 493.7 grams of cannabis. No less than 21 witnesses have been summoned for this trial, which will be heard on December 3, 2024 before the intermediate court.
