Central businessman kidnapped

THREE gunshots were fired during Sunday night’s kidnapping of Central businessman, Outer Maraj, who was reportedly snatched for a $2 million ransom. Maraj, 38, of Grand Central Park, Chag-uanas, is now the 16th person to be kidnapped for a ransom demand for the year. According to reports, Maraj, a car rental businessman, was driving his brown Medallist vehicle along Jerningham Junction, Charlieville, around 11.02 pm Sunday. Maraj was said by the police to be on his way home when he was stopped by a Hilux van.  An eyewitness told the Emergency 999 that there was an altercation during which three shots were heard.

Maraj was bundled into the Hilux van, which drove off. The eyewitness told police that the Medallist vehicle remained in the road, but that there was no movement in it. Some time after, police sources said Maraj’s relatives received a call, asking for the ransom demand. A report was made and a party of officers from the Central Division responded. Members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) under Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes and including acting Supt Henry Millington were later informed and are continuing investigations. A relative of the person who called in the police told Newsday yesterday that the shooting incident occurred a short distance from their home on Marchin Street, Jerningham Junction, Charlieville. The relative added that the area has no street lights and is near a canefield.  Police sources said they have had no leads in the latest kidnapping. All persons kidnapped have been either released or freed by the police except six-year-old Marc Prescott, who was snatched for a $150,000 ransom from outside his San Fernando school, nearly three weeks ago.