Family told burned woman not to go home

Ranjeeta Sharma and her son. Photo / Supplied

Ranjeeta Sharma returned to her husband for the sake of her young son less than a month before she was burned alive, even though her family urged her not to.

She left the Papatoetoe house she was boarding in just days after moving there and owed money to the homeowner, Vai Folau.

Mr Folau said she spoke of having problems with her husband, Diwesh Kumar Sharma, who is known to friends as Daniel, but went back to him "because they wanted to be a good family".

Mrs Sharma's burning body was found on a road west of Huntly last Thursday night. Her husband left New Zealand the next day with their 4-year-old son for Fiji, sparking an international search.

He was last night being questioned by Fiji police after being found in a house with relatives in Rakiraki, a small cane-farming town in western Viti Levu.

Fiji police spokesman Atunaisa Sokomuri last night said he went quietly with officers and had not been hiding.

"They received information and brought him to the station."

The boy was understood to be in the care of relatives.

"He is safe and well," Mr Sokomuri said.

He said authorities were working closely with New Zealand police but did not know if they were planning to come to Fiji.

Yesterday Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said clarification was being sought about the circumstances of Mrs Sharma's husband being located.

"Until we have had further discussions with Fiji police we are unable to add more at this stage."

New Zealand and Fiji have an extradition agreement but police would have to lodge a request with Crown Law and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A ministry spokesman said no request had yet been sent.

Mr Folau told the Herald Mrs Sharma left the Papatoetoe home suddenly but was determined her son would have a mother and father.

He said she was angry he had been living in Australia with relatives of her husband and had spoken to police and a lawyer about getting him back.

Mr Folau said she was happier once the boy returned to her at Christmas, which they spent at Hamilton, but said he was shocked when she said she was leaving with the husband she had been trying to avoid.

"She moved away from him because there were problems."

But they wanted to be a family and appeared "very happy" when her husband arrived at the house to help her move.

"He was a good guy, said hello, and told me they had talked and would get back together."

Mr Folau said her family had told her she needed to find someone else, but she did not listen. They wed about six years ago in an arranged marriage.