Kidnapped cricketer released

His release was made possible after relatives paid an undisclosed sum of cash to the kidnappers.

Newsday learnt that Guillen’s relatives paid a large sum of money to the kidnappers on Monday afternoon to facilitate the release.

Investigators told Newsday that based on information received, the original ransom demand of US$2 million for Guillen had been decreased.

Guillen, who was not physically harmed, was treated by a doctor and then reunited with relatives.

Yesterday, he was at the Glencoe home of his father Jeffrey Guillen.

Relatives of Guillen said yesterday that he was barely able to walk after being released, and staggered to the Barataria Police Station.

He was reasonably well fed and treated decently by his abductors.

Guillen was allowed to listen to a radio and the use of a fan because the area in which he was being kept was very hot.

He was allowed to bathe every day and given a change of clothes.

In fact, the kidnappers appeared to have purchased a new jersey for him, which they made him put on just before he was released at 2 am yesterday.

On his return to his family, he was at first visibly upset and distressed, but he has since regained his spirits and is ready to get on with his life.

He is looking forward to returning to the nets at the Oval to play cricket.

His mother Judy is still in a state of shock, while his father Jeffrey wants to mobilise a group of people who have suffered through the anguish and trauma as well as people who feel they may be affected by kidnapping. Persons who generally want to work together and explore ways to solve the terrible problem of kidnapping would also be part of the group.

Police investigators yesterday said they believe Guillen may have been kept on one of the islands in the western peninsula.

Several homes in North and East Trinidad were raided by AKS officers yesterday as part of the ongoing investigation.

Guillen was snatched outside his mother’s home 12 days ago. He was about to get into his vehicle when he was grabbed.

A ransom of US$2 million was demanded of relatives not long after his abduction.

Guillen was allowed to speak with relatives on the phone to prove to his family that he was still alive.

The young cricketer, who resides in Barbados, is to return to the island shortly.