Indian-origin homeless woman dies of burns in Australia

A 39-year-old Indian-origin woman, who suffered burns to more than 80 per cent of her body apparently due to an acid attack, has died in hospital in Australia.

Monika Chetty, 39, was found by police at Hoxton Park in Sydney on January 3, after a resident reported hearing a woman crying for help. She died yesterday evening in Concord Hospital.

The Fijian-Indian woman had been roaming Sydney's western suburbs for weeks after being horribly disfigured in a mystery incident involving chemicals, ABC News reported.

Residents had seen Chetty begging for food in the days prior to her being taken to Liverpool Hospital. She initially rejected medical help and did not appear to be suffering pain.

She was later transferred to Concord Hospital's Burns Unit. When questioned by police, she said the burns were the result of an acid attack in Liverpool's Bigge Park.

Chetty reportedly has three children who live with her former husband.

Green Valley Detective Superintendent James Johnson has described the case as one of the "biggest mysteries" he has come across in a career spanning more than four decades.
"I'm perplexed," he said. "You have serious injuries and you're not wanting to get attention. I can't understand it."

Police assisted by homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death and would prepare a report for the coroner.