Director of Mauritius tourism academy Harmon Chellen died of Asphyxia, says Seychelles police

(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles police has reported that post-mortem result have shown that Mauritian national, Harmon Chellen “died of asphyxia conducive to drowning.”

In a press statement issued today, the police said the post-mortem was carried out yesterday afternoon.

The Director of the Mauritius Tourism Academy known as ‘Ecole Hoteliere Sir Gaetan Duval’ died on Monday. His body was found floating in the vicinity of L’Islette island at Port Glaud, western district of the main island of Mahé.

The incident happened while the police was starting to investigate a sexual assault case reported earlier in the day of which he was named as suspect, reads the police statement.

The Seychelles police confirmed on Tuesday that the female worker who made the report is a Malagasy national.

The incident reportedly happened the previous night (Sunday) at the Constance Ephelia Resort at Port Launay where Chellen was staying.

The police have said that it is continuing with its investigation in the alleged sexual assault case as well as the drowning incident.

Meanwhile, Chellen’s body is being repatriated to Mauritius today.

The 52 year old Director of the ‘Ecole Hoteliere Sir Gaetan Duval’, arrived in Seychelles last Wednesday and on Thursday he was the guest of honour at the Seychelles Tourism Academy’s graduation ceremony for a group of students who have completed their advanced diploma in hospitality management.

The lawyer of the Mauritius Tourism Academy, Veda Baloomoody, is currently in the country to find out more about what exactly happened to Chellen.

Baloomoody arrived in Seychelles on Wednesday evening accompanied by Chellen’s brother.

Harmon Chellen was married and has 2 children.