Vashtie Mahase, the young mother of two who was brutally chopped two weeks ago while accompanying a Rural Constable (RC) to serve her partner a restraining order, has been discharged from the hospital but was forced to flee her home in fear for her safety.
Mahase, 21, was chopped on February 24th, allegedly by her partner, Fazil Osman, a 39-year-old famer of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
Her mother, Zorina Mahase told Stabroek News last week that the suspect has now threatened to end her (Zorina’s) life. Until then, Zorina said, the man claimed that he would not surrender to the police.
“…..The man (suspect) threaten fah kill me. He seh how long he nah kill me, he nah go show up he self. He family them roaming it all ova the place,” Zorina said.
She said from the inception, the suspect wanted to “get rid” of her since he is under the impression that she encouraged her daughter to leave the relationship. “From the beginning he (the suspect) want kill me. He seh me ah me encourage she (Vashtie) fah lef he. But you think me go see me child in an abusive relationship and still left she inside,” Zorina said.
Zorina noted that she has reported the threats to the police at the Vigilance police station.
However, she believes that the police are not putting enough effort into capturing the suspect. “The people them still nah do nothing fah catch this bai,” she said.
“Right now me ain’t know wah else to do. I went all ova and me nah get no justice. Now look me gah left me house wah me punish fah all me days fah mek fah me and meh children them and run,” the frustrated mother said.
Several efforts to contact police Divisional Commander Calvin Brutus for an update on the matter proved futile.
Brutus had previously related to this newspaper that the search for Osman is ongoing and visits have been made to his home since that is the only address the police have for him. Family members, he had said, were not cooperating with the police even though persons in the neighbourhood have reported sightings of the man.
Brutus had further related that the rank who allegedly encouraged the victim to return to the perpetrator is on sick leave and said he would be questioned upon his return.
To date, it remains unclear whether the rank has resumed duty and has been questioned.
Zorina said following Vashtie’s discharge from the hospital last week, they were forced to leave their home and are currently staying at a relative’s place. She said it will be a great relief for her and her daughter if the police can arrest the suspect soonest.
Prior to being chopped, Mahase had reported to the police at the Mahaica police station that Osman 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.”
On February 24, 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.
After the suspect attacked Vashtie, the RC fled for her safety.
