October 17, 2026 — What began as a meeting at a Fort Lee restaurant to discuss suspicious bank transactions turned into a disturbing poisoning case that sounds almost like the plot of a crime drama.
A 52-year-old Hackensack woman has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault after investigators accused her of secretly adding a sedative to an acquaintance’s tea during a meeting at a local restaurant.
According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Rohweniven Bacani was arrested on October 15 following a weeks-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Leonia Police Department.
A Meeting Over Suspicious Bank Activity
The incident occurred on September 8, 2026, when the victim agreed to meet Bacani at a restaurant in Fort Lee.
The purpose of their meeting was to discuss unauthorized banking activity the victim had discovered in her financial accounts. Investigators said Bacani had shared access to those accounts.
When the victim arrived, Bacani was already seated at the restaurant, with a cup of tea waiting for her.
The woman drank some of the tea but stopped after noticing an unusual taste.
Shortly afterward, while leaving the restaurant, she collapsed.
When she regained consciousness, she was in a hospital and had no memory of how she had arrived there.
Investigators Identify a Sedative in the Tea
The victim remained hospitalized for several days before beginning her recovery.
On September 11, Leonia police received information about the suspected poisoning and notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
A joint investigation was launched involving the prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit and Robbery-Homicide Division.
According to investigators, Bacani had added a benzodiazepine, a type of medication with sedative effects, to the victim’s tea.
Benzodiazepines can cause drowsiness, impaired coordination, confusion, and memory loss.
Hackensack Woman Arrested
Following the investigation, authorities charged Bacani with third-degree aggravated assault on October 14.
The following day, detectives located her outside her Hackensack residence and placed her under arrest.
She was taken to the Bergen County Jail pending her first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.
The Fort Lee Police Department and Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office also assisted with the investigation.
Financial Questions Remain
The circumstances surrounding the meeting have attracted particular attention because the victim had reportedly discovered unauthorized banking activity before arranging to speak with Bacani.
However, prosecutors have not publicly disclosed the amount of money involved, the precise nature of the transactions, or whether additional financial charges are being considered.
The name of the Fort Lee restaurant has also not been released.
Although the allegations describe an unusual sequence of events, the investigation remains a criminal case, and Bacani is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
A meeting intended to clarify suspicious banking transactions ended with a woman hospitalized and an acquaintance facing a serious criminal charge.
Sources: Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office · Daily Voice · NorthJersey.com
By NJ RADAR Team