London: Fiona MacKeown, whose teenage daughter Scarlett Keeling was found murdered in Goa, has claimed that she knew the identity of a suspected killer in her daughter's case who is a "powerful person" with money.

"I was approached by many people who told me this man's name. It is common knowledge out there it seems. He is a powerful person with money. It would explain a lot - why police have tried to cover it up," Fiona, who returned here last night after spending nine days in Goa, said.

"People are saying that they have had enough of him and his group and they want something done about it. I don't think he will get away with it once the CBI take over because they don't take instruction from anyone. Hopefully we will get to the truth," she added.

The Guardian reported today that two men had been arrested in connection with Scarlett's death, who was found murdered on Goa's Anjana beach on February 18.

Samson D Souza was remanded in custody on suspicion of rape and Placido Carvalho had appeared in court on suspicion of drugging the British teenager and assisting in the murder.

Fiona had complained of a cover-up after police initially said the teenager had accidentally drowned when her partially naked body was found on the beach. An autopsy revealed Scarlett had been raped and murdered. It also showed that she had taken ecstasy, cocaine and LSD on the night she died.

Fiona claimed that the investigation into her daughter's death had been hampered by links between police, politicians and drug dealers, the newspaper reported.

Authorities had allegedly used "tactics of intimidation" against her.  "They have done everything they can to try to stop it being investigated properly," Fiona said.  

Fiona said she had been unable to recover organs which had been removed from her daughter's body during a postmortem. Parts of Scarlett's uterus, kidneys, stomach and liver were found missing after a third postmortem was carried out in the UK.  

The Guardian reported that Fiona hoped to recover them for burial, but the Indian government had reportedly said that her request was "unprecedented" and could not be carried out.  

Fiona said local people had been very supportive of her campaign to find out the truth behind her daughter's killing. "It is quite moving the amount of people that have stopped and spoken to me. A lot of them feel very responsible that this has happened to Scarlett in their country," she said.  

On reports that a Bollywood film maker is planning to make a film on her daughter's death, Fiona said she has not been contacted by anyone. "If it is to show the corrupt officials in Goa then I think it could be a good idea. But I hear he is going to call it Rave Party, which doesn't sound good," she said.

Source : PTI