Cops probe abduction of schoolgirl

Officers of the Besson Street Police Station are investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old schoolgirl. The suspect in the kidnapping is a man who has a rape matter in court pending. Reports revealed that around 1.30 pm on Thursday, the girl left her Laventille home telling her mother that she was going to the home of a friend at Block 22, Laventille. When the girl failed to return home at 3 pm, her mother made a check at the home of the friend and discovered that her daughter had been snatched from the house by a man. A report was made to the Besson Street Police Station and a party of officers led by Ag Sgt Stephen Grant, Cpl Sookdeo and PC Edwards went to Block 22 where they interviewed several persons. The man who snatched the schoolgirl claimed that he was her cousin and was asked by relatives to take her home. He was previously charged with raping the same girl, who was 12 years old at the time of the alleged  rape occurred in the Belmont area. A warrant was issued for the arrest of the man who has since gone into hiding. Yesterday, the abducted schoolgirl was still in the custody of the suspect. Ag Sgt Grant is investigating.