Murder of Ganeshwaree Buleeram in November 2019: Ex-Husband Umaiir Nubbeebuccus Sentenced to Life
Murder of Ganeshwaree Buleeram in November 2019: Ex-Husband Umaiir Nubbeebuccus Sentenced to Life
Ledweena Ramasawmy-Mohun
Thu, 12/11/2025 - 1:30 PM
For Judge Manrakhan, the victim's voice must be heard.
"If you do not come for me, you will not come for anyone." These words preceded the murder of Ganeshwaree Buleeram, known as Sheena to her loved ones, who was stabbed to death on November 8, 2019, by her ex-husband, Mamode Umaiir Nubbeebuccus. The 34-year-old resident of Sébastopol was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Assize Court on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
In his verdict, Judge Mehdi Manrakhan was particularly harsh. He recalled the brutality of the convicted man and detailed the sexual violence, torture, and complete destruction of the young woman's dignity at the hands of her tormentor. According to the established facts, Sheena Buleeram, aged 34 at the time, had been kidnapped, raped, sodomized, assaulted, and tortured for about six hours before being killed. For the judge, this series of events places the case in a category justifying the maximum penalty.
Mamode Umaiir Nubbeebuccus pleaded guilty to the murder, which occurred on November 8, 2019, in Camp-de-Masque-Pavé. Judge Mehdi Manrakhan emphasized that the defendant's guilty plea did not in any way mitigate the "exceptional severity" of the acts committed. The judge reminded that women in Mauritius "are not the property of those who once lived with them," that their autonomy cannot be conditional, and that their refusal to submit to any form of control cannot result in a death sentence. On this International Human Rights Day, he believes that the voice and rights of Sheena Buleeram must be acknowledged.
"Don't stab"
Judge Manrakhan also highlighted the obsession that the accused had towards his ex-wife, whom he suspected of having another relationship. He harassed her, even going so far as to find a job at the hotel where she worked.
"The manner in which he stabbed her all over her body showed a total lack of respect for human life and was motivated by an evil desire to finish her off," the judge wrote in his verdict.
He also noted that the young woman had filed police reports several times to report the violence she suffered. The last complaint was dated November 5, 2019, just three days before her death. The police had then warned the accused to stop harassing her and not to go to her workplace.
On the day of the tragedy, Sheena Buleeram reportedly pleaded with her attacker not to harm her. "Don’t stab me," she implored, but this did not stop the assault. The autopsy, conducted by Dr. Sudesh Kumar Gungadin, head of the forensic department, concluded with "shock following a stab wound to the heart."
The judge finally emphasized that this case should be viewed in a broader context, noting the cases of femicides recorded in Mauritius. "Mauritius has in recent years witnessed a deeply troubling rise in violent attacks on women, particularly by partners or former partners. Too many of these incidents have ended in death," stressed Mehdi Manrakhan.
