Kidnappers demand $3M for businessman

A THREE million dollar ransom has been demanded for the country’s latest kidnap victim — Davan Bharrathsingh. A male caller telephoned the home of Bharrathsingh’s parents at 7 pm on Sunday and demanded the cash. The caller also promised to call again to give instructions as to where the cash should be dropped off. Bharrathsingh, 34, was snatched from his Couva businessplace on Saturday in a yellow Nissan Cifero. His relatives hired a helicopter on Saturday to search for him, but this proved futile. In Edingburgh, Chaguanas yesterday, Bharrathsingh’s relatives prayed for his safe return. They stayed close to the telephone hoping to hear good news.

The victim was at the family’s McBean Village hardware in Couva when two men stormed into the businessplace, shouting at workers, “Where is the old lady?” They were referring to the victim’s 50-year-old mother Sheila. They tied up employees and customers and took more than $10,000 from the cash register. Bharrathsingh was then bundled into the trunk of the yellow Cifero. Police responded within minutes, but lost the car in Tabaquite. Investigators believe Bharrathsingh is being kept in the bushes between Tabaquite and Rio Claro. They believe the mastermind behind the kidnapping is a man who has influence over a group of young criminals operating out of a mosque in Central Trinidad.

The man is also reported to have close links to several police officers. Up to yesterday, 15 persons had been kidnapped for the year. Police Commissioner Trevor Paul yesterday said he was unable to divulge what course the police will be adopting to deal with the recent spate of kidnappings, especially in Central Trinidad. Another kidnap victim, Brian Bachan, who was kidnapped last week, is still being held by kidnappers. The 39-year-old Bachan was snatched from his Carlsen Field home last week, while Pasea bar owner Chris Elves remains missing. The Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce is expected to hold an emergency meeting shortly to discuss the kidnappings involving Central businessmen.