$3M ransom demanded
DAYNE PALADEE, the 36-year-old manager of the Grand Bazaar branch of Pennywise Cosmetics was snatched by three men as he pulled up outside his driveway at the corner of Mohammed Street, Tunapuna, on Wednesday night. Kidnappers have demanded $3 million for his safe release. He is the 41st person to be kidnapped for ransom for the year. Paladee, 36, a father of one was snatched by three men as he was about to drive into his driveway at about 7.30 pm. Paladee’s wife who was supposed to be driving behind her husband said that she did not see or hear anything. However, one neighbour said that he saw Paladee struggling with the kidnappers and called E-999. According to the eyewitness, the police did not respond until 30 minutes later and were heard arguing about which police station should have responded to the report. By that time the kidnappers had long fled the scene. Five minutes after the kidnapping, relatives received a call demanding a $3 million ransom. Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) went to the scene of the kidnapping and interviewed several persons. One eyewitness claimed that the kidnappers were seen lurking in the area on Wednesday night in a van. Shortly before the kidnapping, the men were dropped off in the area and waited for Paladee. At the scene of the kidnapping, the gate leading to Paladee’s home remained locked. However, at the home of his parents, a short distance away, his mother Shanti and other relatives were engaged in a prayer meeting with a Hindu priest. Prayers were being recited for the safety of Paladee and for his return home. Relatives were too distraught to be interviewed yesterday, but police sources revealed that the owners of Pennywise Cosmetics were advised by AKS officers to exercise all the necessary precautions because of inside information that they were targets for kidnappers. An armed guard remained at the entrance leading to the home of the founders of Pennywise Cosmetics. Investigations are continuing. URP worker shot dead in Petit Valley Police investigators believe that the killing is gang related and linked to several other gang-related killings in the western division. Reports revealed that Jason Felician, 26, of Celestine Trace, Maraval, was working at the Cameron Road project, when he was approached by a gunman who shot him five times. He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police investigators told Newsday that the killing was linked to the spate of gang related murders linked to the URP. Shorly after that murder, another man Garfield Charles, 26, who was recently released from prison was at Covigne Road, Diego Martin when he was shot several times. He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated and warded. Police sources revealed that Felician was a member of the Abdul Malick gang. Malick was shot dead last Sunday while visiting his girlfriend at Petit Valley. Following his murder a drug gang war erupted. Police Commissioner Trevor Paul placed additional patrols in that division to deal with the shootings, killings and illicit activities. Teen shot dead while playing with gun Police reports revealed that at about 7.30 pm on Wednesday, Reon Francis Phillip, was sitting on top of an old fridge at Laventille Extension Road, in the company of a friend when he began playing with a gun. The gun accidentally went off shooting Phillip in the head. He was rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Officers of the Morvant Police Station are investigating. $2 million ransom demanded for pasta CEO Kidnappers have demanded a $2 million ransom for kidnapped CEO of Jo-Sing Pasta, Vanessa Sookhai-Singh. The 38-year-old mother of one was kidnapped on Monday, while driving her car along Frederick Settlement, Caroni. On Wednesday, kidnappers telephoned the relatives of Sookhai-Singh and made the ransom demand. Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad told Newsday that they are following certain leads in the kidnapping. The business operations at Jo-Sing Pasta at Kelly Village, Caroni continued to remain operational yesterday. Relatives of the kidnapped woman continued to hold a vigil at her Trincity home to lend support to each other. One relative pleaded with the kidnappers to allow the young businesswoman to return to her home and business. They are also pleading with the police to find the persons responsible for the spate of kidnappings in the country.
A 26-year-old URP worker was shot dead while working on a project at Cameron Road, Petit Valley yesterday.
A 17-year-old man was killed after he accidentally shot himself with a gun on Wednesday night.
By NALINEE SEELAL
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