$1M ransom for Tranquillity student

WHILE happiness reigned at the Chaguanas home of kidnap victim Nadine Harripersad, 16, who was snatched last Wednesday but was released early yesterday morning, tears flowed at the home of the country’s latest teen kidnap victim — schoolboy Nicholas Sebro — who was snatched on Saturday night and for whose safe release, a ransom of $1 million has been demanded. Sebro, a Form Four student of Tranquillity Government Secondary School, was snatched by two gunmen Saturday night and hustled into a car.

Sebro’s relatives are particularly worried over the kidnappers’ chilling threat that if their $1 million ransom demand was not paid soon, their money could be used for Sebro’s funeral. The 15-year-old student was reportedly standing near his Yolande Pompeye Avenue home in La Horquetta around 8 pm, when he was snatched by two gunmen and hustled into a white car which sped off. One of the kidnappers telephoned the boy’s father, Junior Issac, three hours later with the ransom demand. Sebro is the tenth person to be kidnapped for the year.

Yesterday, Sebro’s father told Newsday he was “very worried” about the safety of his son and pleaded with the kidnappers to release the boy. He also made it clear that he did not have millions of dollars. Issac told Newsday he was unsure why his son was targetted since he (Junior) was not a rich man, but rather a striving businessman. He said he was shocked and saddened by what was happening in the country with criminals descending so low as to snatch children.

Issac, who has not slept or eaten since his son was snatched, was yesterday interviewed by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad. The worried father, who struggled to keep his composure said the kidnapping was “like living a nightmare since you do not know if your child is safe.” He told Newsday he only learnt of his son’s kidnapping when he returned from work on Saturday night. Other relatives were also in shock over the kidnapping and called on the public to help the police find Nicholas. Neighbours of the kidnapped boy also expressed shock and alarm and vowed not to let their children go anywhere or be out of their (the parents) sight. “What is Trinidad really coming to?” asked an angry mother of five who lives near to the victim’s home.

She demanded that National Security Minister Martin Joseph and Police Commissioner Trevor Paul deal with the kidnappings. Between last week and yesterday, five kidnap victims had been released after ransoms were paid. Sgts Herbert and Issac of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad are investigating. Meanwhile, relatives of kidnap victim Nadine Harripersad, a student of Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive School who was snatched last Wednesday, were reunited with her after (according to police) a small ransom was paid. The teen was released unharmed around 3.30 am yesterday at the Caroni scale-yard in Kelly Village, Caroni.

Anti-Kidnapping police sources said they were on the trail of Harripersad’s kidnappers and were working on “key information” which they hoped would lead to arrests. When Newsday visited the Harripersad residence, relatives who were seen drinking and liming outside the house, refused to speak to the reporter. Harripersad was kidnapped last Wednesday while on her way to school and a $2 million ransom was demanded for her safe release. The girl was not harmed by her kidnappers and reportedly could not tell police where she was kept or who snatched her. Sgt Issac of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad is leading investigations into the Harripersad kidnapping.