The police in ‘C’ Division are investigating the handling of the case of Vashtie Mahase, the young woman who was brutally chopped while accompanying a Rural Constable (RC) to serve her partner a restraining order, according to Divisional Commander Calvin Brutus.
Mahase, 21, was chopped on February 24th, allegedly by her partner, Fazil Osman, a 39-year-old famer of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara. She is now hospitalised with serious injuries.
The woman had reported to the police at the Mahaica Police Station that the man had beaten her. The investigating rank later instructed that she return with her alleged abuser, who by then had accused her of stealing his money when she visited their house to remove her clothes. Prior to that, she had asked the police to accompany her to the house but they said they had no ranks. The alleged perpetrator demanded that she repay the money and when she indicated she was unable to do so, Mahase said the rank told her to go back with the man and see if they can “make-up back.”
Last Sunday she had enough and returned to the station and asked that the man be served a restraining order. She was told she had to accompany the female RC to identify the man and even though she expressed concerns about doing so, she was reportedly told that she had to accompany the officer.
Commander Brutus last evening said the police are investigating this aspect of matter and when asked if it is usual for an alleged victim of domestic violence to accompany the police to serve the perpetrator, he said, “It is not the norm.”
Asked what may have been the reason for the police at the station to take that route, the commanding officer could not say as he indicated, “We are hearing different stories and we are investigating.”
Further pressed, Brutus said he only read the woman’s account of being encouraged to return to her perpetrator in the press.
“I saw that in the press but in her initial statement the victim did not state this. We would have to take a further statement from her…,” the officer added.
Asked if he is concerned by the report that a domestic violence victim was being asked to return to the perpetrator, the Commander responded in the positive. “Of course I am concerned …Yes we are investigating all aspects,” he said.
He also related that the rank who allegedly encouraged the victim to return to the perpetrator is on sick leave. “The rank who allegedly did that is on sick leave and we are not getting on to him. He is expected to return shortly and we would question him along that line,” Brutus said.
In the meantime, he said that the search is on for Osman and visits has been made to his home since that is the only address the police have for him. Family members have not been cooperating even though persons in the neighbourhood have reported sightings of the man.
Mahase, who is fearful for her life, remains hospitalised.
