Businessman’s son kidnapped

MINUTES after leaving his girlfriend’s home, a 21-year-old Central businessman’s son was abducted by masked men who blocked his car at Todds Road, Chaguanas, on Sunday night.

Up to late yesterday, the kidnappers had not contacted the family of Christopher Maharaj to make ransom demands. Maharaj, the son of the proprietor of Bess Auto Supplies, operated one of his father’s two businessplaces, at Montrose, Chaguanas. This is the second person to have been kidnapped in the Maharaj family. In September last year, his relative Robby Maharaj, 28, was snatched from in front his Enterprise home. Ten days later, Robby was rescued from a house at Firebourne Road, Freeport. When Newsday visited Christopher Maharaj’s, Caussaira Crescent, Lange Park home yesterday, a relative said the police had advised them not to speak with the media and they had no comment to make on the incident.

However, Newsday understands that on Sunday, Maharaj went to visit his girlfriend of three years, Alicia Birbal, 21, at her Chin Johnson Road, Todds Road, home. Police sources said around 9 pm, Maharaj bid goodnight to his girlfriend, and as he stopped his white B-14 Nissan Sentra car, to turn on to Todds Road, a grey silver B 14 Nissan Sentra blocked his path. Three masked men armed with guns alighted and dragged Maharaj out of his car. He was then bundled into the back seat of their car, while one of the men took control of Maharaj’s car. Persons who witnessed the kidnapping contacted the police, who responded shortly after. This is the second kidnapping to have occurred within three days. Eighteen-year-old Ravin Persad, the son of a southern contractor, was abducted on Sunday morning and a $500,000 ransom demand was made for his safe release. However, Persad escaped on Friday evening before the ransom was paid. Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and Chaguanas CID are continuing investigations.