The partly decomposed body of the woman found in Linden in a coal pit earlier this week has been identified as Nasleen Mohamed who had been missing for some three weeks.

Relatives who had held out hope that she would return home reported her missing on Thursday and were informed of a body which was discovered at Linden. They immediately travelled to Linden and identified the woman by the clothes she was wearing.

Mohamed called “Mama” was 20-years-old and lived with her extended family at the East Ruimveldt Squatting Area. She had no children but was closely attached to her nieces and nephews.

Jenny Mohammed, the dead woman’s mother told Stabroek News yesterday that her daughter left home accompanied by two friends. She said the friends, a male and female are known to the family. Nasleen did not say where she was going, according to the mother.

“I don’t really find out she business like duh. She left and say she coming back so we keep looking out fuh she. Is three weeks now since she gone and ah keep telling dem to mek a report”, the mother related.

The mother said Nasleen telephoned the family the day after she left home and that was the last time they heard from her. She said her daughter spoke to another relative and sounded alarmed at the time. But the relative never got a chance to question her because the phone call was cut off. When they dialled the number there was no answer. They suspect that she was killed sometime around then.

Relatives say she was strangled and had been beaten. The woman’s body was found in a burnt-out coal pit at the back of the Wisroc Housing Scheme. She was clad in a tee-shirt and blue denim short pants. A belt was wrapped around her neck while her feet were bound.

Jenny Mohamed said when she described her daughter to the police and told them what she was wearing on the day that she left home it was confirmed right away that it was Nasleen. She said that was the most difficult part because though they were worried they never expected to find her dead.

The woman was buried on Valentine’s Day by the government. The mother said the family did not get a chance to say good-bye but is grateful that she has been laid to rest.

Police are investigating the murder and are reportedly looking for a suspect. (Iana Seales)