Berbice. A 19-year-old man accused of brutally chopping his brother and severing his arm, has allegedly offered police a monetary inducement to drop the case.
According to reports, Selvin Bachan attempted to induce the investigating officer to prevent the matter from reaching the courts. However, the policeman reportedly refused to take any bribe. Bachan made an appearance before the Whim Magistrate’s Court on Monday charged with the attempted murder of his older brother, Elvin.
Elvin, 26, was chopped on the arms around 20:00h on August 16 at Lot 185 Clifton Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice. According to eyewitnesses, the elder Bachan was beating his mother with a cutlass at their Corentyne home when his younger brother turned the cutlass on him.
Elvin’s right hand was chopped off just above the elbow, while several fingers of his left hand were chopped off and the hand itself, at the wrist, was almost severed. Police had received information about the family quarrel, but arrived only in time to rush the injured man to the New Amsterdam Hospital where efforts were made to re-attach his left hand.
While at the scene, police were told a different version from what actually transpired and detained the mother of the siblings for providing false information. “The mother said that two men armed with cutlasses came into her yard and began chopping her older son, but since the police had already received a call about a fight; they didn’t believe her,” one neighbour said.
Around midnight on Thursday, police returned to the scene to take photographs, secure the area, and gather vital evidence. The following day, police again returned to the area, checking for the suspect; based on a tip, they found him concealed at a neighbour’s house. He was then taken into custody. According to reports, the accused brother said he has no feelings of remorse for wounding his older brother, who was described by persons in the community as a menace.
According to the Bachan's neighbours the injured brother would frequently assault his mother and terrorise others in the community. Other sources within the community claimed that an argument erupted during a drinking spree, subsequently leading to bloodshed. The alleged perpetrator and his injured brother have been residing with their 52-year-old mother Kaloutie Bachan and their stepfather, known as “Gama”, at Clifton Settlement after their father passed away six years ago.
The men, who work as labourers, are said to have frequent quarrels and fights. According to reports, Elvin and his stepfather were having a customary drink at their home, when his brother came over from a neighbour’s yard and joined the duo. A quarrel erupted between the brothers and a scuffle ensued. Their mother eventually separated the men, but Selvin reportedly used the opportunity to venture into the house and arm himself with a cutlass.
Eyewitnesses said that without warning, the younger sibling fired a chop which severed his brother’s right hand. The wounded man fell to the ground at which time he received another chop to his left arm which was left dangling at the wrist.
Elvin was left lying on the ground, bleeding profusely from his wounds while his brother fled the scene. The severely wounded man was picked up in an unconscious condition and rushed to the hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery and were able to reattach his left hand.
Elvin reportedly told police that he does not want his brother to go to jail, since he is still unmarried without children. He added that his brother would also have to take up a breadwinner role.
