Cops fear for safety of snatched businessman

A Chaguanas businessman who was snatched in 2002 and released after spending six days in the hands of his abductors, was kidnapped for a second time on Thursday afternoon. Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad yesterday expressed fear for the safety of Ravi Kallipersad Maharaj, 33, the son of Ramnarine Maharaj who owns Ramo’s Auto Garage at Longdenville Old Road, Enterprise. Maharaj was due to give evidence against two men charged with kidnapping him, at the Port-of-Spain High Court next Wednesday. Police have linked his kidnapping to his court matter and are following certain leads in the abduction. The young businessman was snatched by two men in a silver Maxima car around 6 pm on Thursday.

Reports revealed that the father of one was driving into his garage at Plover Street, Lange Park, Chaguanas, in his red Almera car when he was ordered out of the vehicle and bundled into the silver Maxima. Up until yesterday, no ransom was demanded for Maharaj. Worried relatives, including his wife who is a journalist with a daily newspaper, were in a state of shock and prayed for his safe return. When Newsday visited the scene of the kidnapping on Thursday night, relatives were still traumatised. They said that they never believed they would have to relive the torture and daily nightmare of not knowing if Maharaj was alive or not. Relatives said Maharaj suffers from asthma and is in need of his medication or his health could be in danger.

When Kallipersad was kidnapped on September 5, 2002, a $1 million ransom was demanded for his safe return. He was rescued by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on September 11. Five suspects were originally held when officers stormed an unoccupied house at Freeport. Two men were later charged with kidnapping and falsely imprisoning Maharaj. They were a Petit Valley father of 18 and a 25-year-old San Juan man. Both men appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate on Septmber 12, 2002. One of the accused was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 with two sureties, while the other suspect was refused bail.