UDATE: Getaway vehicle used in Westville murder impounded
Wednesday 15 July, 3.20pm
ACCORDING to a message posted on Yashin Bagwandeen’s sister’s Facebook page, the R10 000 reward offered by Suren Balram last night has led to many people coming forward with information about crimes committed by four men in a white Subaru Legacy.
One woman reported that they stole her husband’s firearm and others reported similar offenses they committed. A Metro policeman wrote that they chased the same men on Tuesday, a short while after Yashin’s murder, and they hijacked two other vehicles in a bid to escape.
Rivaaj Ree Ramdas, a family friend, wrote: “I’m on my way to the police pound now with some of Yashin’s family members to inspect the Subaru, hoping to find some information that can lead us to the scumbags. Prem Balram has been in contact with me and reassured me that Tactical Response officers are on standby and he will personally respond with the RUSA helicopter should we somehow identify the suspects and secure their arrests.
“Last night, before Suren came forward with the reward, we knew nothing about the guys we are hunting, now there is some hope with the Subaru being recovered and people coming forward that we will get the investigating officer to contact and link the cases. I’m praying we can find them and bring justice and closure to Yashin’s family.”
Yashin’s death has united the community against crime. More people have now come forward with support and offered sympathy to the family.
Yashin’s brother, Yashvir, said Yashin was an entrepreneur who handled retailer, Game’s excess stock which had minor packaging defects. He would buy the stock from Game and auction it off or retail it to the public. He described his brother as a realist who encouraged the community to look at life from a meta-science philosophical point of view.
“He was an active member of the Westville CPF and involved himself with drills and self-defense classes. He also lived for his wife and two daughters, aged three and eight, he was intelligent and instilled with righteous morals,” said Yashvir.
He said Yashin believed in the motto, ‘Tell it like it is’, and embraced all cultures and beliefs. He was witty at times but lived for the truth.
“If I had to opportunity to speak to my brother again, in the context being that he is journeying to the other side, I would jokingly say with a smile, ‘You always have to be the hero, don’t you?’ And then I’d tell him that his wife and kids are in the best hands possible, journey well and we’ll meet again one day,” said Yashvir.
Yashin is survived by his wife, Larissa, two daughters, brothers, Yashwin and Yashvir, sister, Shakira and parents, Vinod and Shara. The memorial service will be held on Thursday, 16 July at 2pm to 3:30pm at Clare Estate Crematorium.
