A R10 000 reward is being offered for information leading to the successful arrest and conviction of the robbers who killed a Westville man in a botched home invasion on Tuesday, 14 July.
Yashin Bagwandeen (43) was shot dead while trying to protect his family from four armed robbers at his home.
According to Sgt Stephen Clark, communications officer for Westville SAPS, the deceased’s father, Vinod, was walking back to the house on Mottramdale Road in Berea West after seeing his wife off when he spotted a white Subaru Legacy stationwagon parked outside the gate. The four men, who he thought were his son’s clients, then asked to see Yashin, but he replied that he was not at home. They then grabbed Vinod at gunpoint and proceeded to the house. They entered the house and led Vinod to the kitchen where Yashin’s wife, Larissa, was holding her three-year-old daughter.
“It is believed Yashin heard the commotion in the kitchen, grabbed his gun and upon entering the kitchen saw the robbers pointing a gun at Larissa and their child. He stood in front of them and an unconfirmed number of shots were fired, of which several hit him, a shot to the head fatally wounding him,” said Clark.
A neighbour, who heard the gunshots, saw two of the men leave the house and flee the scene in the Subaru.
“Police are investigating cases of house robbery and murder. No arrests have yet been made, however police linked the description of the vehicle to a house robbery in Malvern later that day. The robbers allegedly abandoned the white Saburu and hijacked a Ford Ranger before making their getaway,” said Clark.
Suren Balram of Trans Natal Flying Squad in Verulam heard about the tragic incident and is offering a reward for any information leading to the successful arrest and conviction of these criminals.
“I have no relation to Yashin or his family but I would really like to see justice served, so I’m offering a reward of R10 000 for any information leading to the successful arrest and conviction of the savages who murdered him. You can contact me on 072 366 8009, Rivaaj Ramdas on 083 365 1024 or the police on 10111,” said Balram.
Yashin was an active member of the Westville Community Police Forum and owned an appliance business, which he ran from his home. Speculative reports suggest that these men had observed Yashin running his business from home and assumed that he had a safe on the premises.
A memorial service for Yashin will be held at the home on Thursday, 16 July from 2pm to 3.30pm. The body will then be taken to Clare Estate Crematorium for cremation.
