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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Police are searching for several men, dressed up as police officers, who abducted a 33-year-old businessman and have since demanded a three million dollar (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) ransom for his release.
Police said that Suvesh “Cooksie” Ramnarine, 33, of Warrenville, Cunupia in Central Trinidad, was at a nearby bar on Saturday night when five armed men dressed in police tactical uniforms with the word “POLICE” on the back entered the building.
Two of them approached Ramnarine and escorted him outside and into a vehicle. They also drove away with Ramnarine’s vehicle. Soon afterwards Ramnarine’s mother received an anonymous phone call saying he had been kidnapped and a ransom was demanded.
The Mayor of Chaguanas, Faaiq Mohammed in a statement expressed concern over the recent spate of kidnappings in the area.
“This horrifying trend shakes the very foundation of Chaguanas, leaving residents and business owners in fear. In recent times, our hard-working businessmen – crucial to the development of this borough – have become prime targets for these violent acts. Today, we must confront this growing threat together and take decisive action.
“This wave of kidnappings, coupled with the increasing brazenness of the criminals involved, is something we must not, and will not, tolerate. No one should have to live in fear of being abducted from their workplace, their home, or their community. No one should have to fear for their life simply because they work hard to support their family and contribute to the development of our borough,” he added.
Last month, used car dealer Sachel Kungebeharry was abducted in Chaguanas in Central Trinidad by men dressed in police tactical uniforms and driving a marked police vehicle.
Media reports said that aTT$500,000 ransom had been paid for his release, but his decomposing body was discovered in early October.
Since then two police officers, acting corporal Ashraf Mohammed and constable Jason Michael appeared in court last week charged murder, kidnapping for ransom as well as misbehaviour in public office.
Commissioner of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher, in a statement, has vowed to rid the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) of “errant officers” and the TTPS “regrets the alleged involvement of law enforcement officers, sworn to promote law and order, in the commission of this heinous act.
“We continue to be challenged with the presence of errant officers amongst the ranks of the TTPS. And while we are all deeply concerned with these incidents, I ask that we allow the investigations to proceed without interference and avoid any premature conclusions.
“I am very conscious that this incident goes against every principle of the TTPS and threatens to erode the public’s trust in the TTPS. As such, we are determined to address all incidents of breach of duty or misconduct by any officer with unwavering impartiality, meticulous scrutiny, and swift action.”
