Portugal, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa
Introduction
The correspondence reproduced below formed part of the diplomatic communications exchanged following Laura Vanessa Nunes’ death in Dubai. The emails document the information initially provided by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to the Embassy of Portugal in Abu Dhabi, subsequent efforts to notify family members in South Africa, and later attempts to locate Laura’s personal belongings and luggage. Luis Câmara was Deputy Head of Mission and Consul at the Embassy of Portugal in Abu Dhabi at the time of Laura Vanessa Nunes’ death.
Notification of Death
The first two emails reproduced below were forwarded to me by Luisa Fragoso in South Africa on 19 November 2014 after she had been notified of Laura Vanessa Nunes’ death through Portuguese diplomatic channels.
A.3 – Email: Embassy of Portugal (Abu Dhabi) to Consulate General (Pretoria)
Portuguese text preserved for accuracy
De: Luis Henrique de Noronha Brito Câmara <[endereços de email redigidos]>
Enviada: Segunda-feira, 17 de Novembro de 2014 10:37
Para: <[endereços de email redigidos]>
CC: <[endereços de email redigidos]>
Assunto: Morte de cidadã nacional LAURA VANESSA NUNES
Exmos. Senhores,
1. Fomos contactados esta manhã pelo Criminal Investigation Department (CID) que nos informou que a cidadã nacional LAURA VANESSA NUNES, nascida na África do Sul em 01.07.1976, cometeu suicídio no Dubai, tendo-se precipitado do 38o andar de um hotel. Cidadã nacional tinha um visto turismo e o CID informou que estava sozinha no Dubai.
2. Iremos ter encontro com o CID a fim de melhor nos inteirarmos sobre o sucidido.
3. Muito se agradeceria que a sua família fosse contactada a fim de determiner o que fazer com o seu corpo e bens pessoais.
Com os melhores cumprimentos
Luis Câmara
Chefe de Missão Adjunto e Encarregado de Seccão Consular
Deputy Head of Mission and Consul
Embaixada de Portugal em Abu Dhabi
Embassy of Portugal in Abu Dhabi
English Translation
(Google-translated version from the book)
From: Luis Henrique de Noronha Brito Câmara <[email address redacted]>
Date: Monday, 17 November 2014 10:37
To: <[email addresses redacted]>
CC: <[email addresses redacted]>
Subject: Death of national citizen LAURA VANESSA NUNES
Dear Sirs,
1. We were contacted this morning by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which informed us that national citizen LAURA VANESSA NUNES, born in South Africa on July 1, 1976, committed suicide in Dubai by jumping from the 38th floor of a hotel. The national citizen had a tourist visa, and the CID informed us that she was alone in Dubai.
2. We will meet with the CID to better understand the circumstances of the suicide.
3. We would greatly appreciate it if her family could be contacted to determine what to do with her body and personal belongings.
A.4– Email: Embassy of Portugal (Abu Dhabi) to Portuguese Authorities
(Portuguese text preserved for accuracy)
De: Luis Henrique de Noronha Brito Câmara <[enereços de email redigidos]>
Enviada: segunda-feira, 17 de Novembro de 2014 14:08
Para: <[endereços de email redigidos]>
CC: <[endereços de email redigidos]>
Assunto: Morte de cidadã nacional LAURA VANESSA NUNES
Exmos. Senhores.
1. A morte da cidadã nacional LAURA VANESSA NUNES está sob investigacão pelo CID, não obstante o suicídio ser causa provável. Apenas deizou uma carteira de Senhora com alguns bens pessoais. Suicidou-se atirando-se do 148o andar do Burj Khalifa no Dubai, num local onde há restaurantes com uma esplanade panorâmica. O CID não tem registo da sua estadia num estabelcimento hoteleiro.
2. Iremos ter encontro com o CID a fim melhor nos inteirarmos sobre o sucedido.
English Translation
(Google-translated version from the book)
From: Luis Henrique de Noronha Brito Câmara <[email address redacted]>
Date: Monday, 17 November 2014 14:08
To: <[email addresses redacted]>
CC: <[email addresses redacted]>
Subject: Death of national citizen LAURA VANESSA NUNES
Dear Sirs,
1. The death of national citizen LAURA VANESSA NUNES is under investigation by the CID, although suicide is the probable cause. She left behind only a lady’s purse with some personal belongings. She committed suicide by jumping from the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, in an area with restaurants and a panoramic terrace. The CID has no record of her stay at a hotel.
2. We will meet with the CID to better understand what happened.
Recovery of Personal Belongings
12 January 2015, to Luis Câmara
“I have been told by the CID Police in Dubai that should I have any more queries relating to my daughter’s death I must go through diplomatic channels and this is why I am contacting you again.”
After my daughter’s death the CID Police went to Abidos Hotel Apartments in Dubailand where my daughter had been staying, and collected her luggage which she had left for safekeeping with the hotel.”
14 January 2015, to Luisa Fragoso
“Please could you assist me in retrieving my daughter’s belongings from the CID Police in Dubai. They removed her luggage from the Abidos Hotel in Dubailand after her death and I am not getting any cooperation from the Victims Support Group of the CID Police or the Portuguese Consulate in Abu Dhabi.”
21 January 2015, to Luisa Fragoso
“Please would you tell me if you have managed to get any information as to where my daughter’s luggage is.”
22 January 2015, from Luisa Fragoso
“While regretting the unfortunate situation regarding your daughter, I would like to assure you that everything is being done to get hold of the belongings left behind by Laura.
Mr. Luis Brito Câmara in our Embassy in Abu Dhabi answered the mail you sent me letting me know that he was busy trying to recover Laura’s luggage.”
Email from Luis Camara (21 January 2015) forwarded to me by Luisa Fragoso (22 January 2015)
“We have contacted the CID and they told us that in order to get her belongings which are at the Police Station of Dubai it is necessary either for the one of the parents to collect it themselves, or for the parents to make a Power of Attorney so that someone on their behalf can collect the items.”
In the same forwarded email, an email from MEA (Middle East Assistance) to Luis Câmara (22 January 2015)
“We visited the Police to check the missing belongings, they advised that the belongings are still with the hotel.
The police office already contacted the hotel manager and requested the Inventory list.”
Conclusion
The correspondence reproduced above documents both the changing information provided to Portuguese diplomatic officials following Laura Vanessa Nunes’ death and subsequent efforts to locate and recover her personal belongings. Together with hotel records, inventory documentation and related correspondence, these communications form part of the wider evidentiary record relating to Laura’s death and its aftermath.