Lorna Lim Varona will soon finally be laid to rest in her home country after she was brutally murdered nearly a month ago.
“We hope to take her body home by Wednesday or Thursday next week,” said Pablo Varona, 65, who went to Sharjah Public Prosecution to process the paperwork required to repatriate his wife’s remains.
“The wake may take four to five days before she will be laid to rest.”
The Filipino businesswoman, 51, was found murdered on August 31, nearly a week after she was reported missing from the family home in Mirdif, in Dubai.
She had been stabbed at least six times, and her body stuffed into a bag in the boot of her car, a green Jaguar S-Type, in Sharjah’s Industrial Area 2.
Mr Varona received a police report and a four-page forensics report that had to be translated from Arabic to English. The department of preventive medicine in Sharjah issued a death certificate.
“I’m quite relieved that we got all the papers now,” he said. “My family and I will be accompanying her body to Manila.”
A Filipino in his 50s, described as a close friend of the family, was arrested in Dubai the day after Mrs Varona’s body was found and police said he confessed to the killing.
The family was able to see the woman’s body for the first time on September 15, nearly two weeks after learning about the murder from Sharjah police.
They are required to present the autopsy report, death certificate and passport to the Philippines consulate in Dubai, which will then issue a no-objection certificate for the embalming of her remains, said Mohammed Pukunum, a consulate staff member.
Mr Varona said they could not retrieve his wife’s passport so they would need to apply for a travel document at the consulate.
The repatriation process also involves an airline cargo booking, transferring the body from the morgue to an embalming facility at Sonapur, and taking it to the airport for the trip to the Philippines.
Mr Varona’s daughters Maria Lourdes, 29, and Maria Liza, 24, are in Dubai to support their father and help to run their mother’s four business interests.
Sons Joseph Luke, 27, and Joseph Louis, 26, are in Manila to finalise funeral arrangements.
“The case will continue and we know it will take time,” Mr Varona said. “But we believe in the justice system of the UAE. We’ll get justice for Lorna.”
rruiz@thenational.ae
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Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
HOW TO WATCH
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Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
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