Kidnapping of US war veteran

A TRUCK DRIVER who was charged with kidnapping US war veteran Balram “Balo” Maharaj was yesterday extradited to Washington DC, to face trial for taking Maharaj hostage.

Russell Joseph, 33, also called “Saucy,” left Trinidad on American Airlines flight 1818 for Miami International Airport. He was accompanied to the US by two FBI agents.

Usually, US Marshals come to Trinidad to escort wanted prisoners to the US. In this case, because of the nature of the charges and the fact that Maharaj served in the US army, the US authorities sent FBI agents. After landing in Miami, Joseph was taken aboard another aircraft for Washington DC.

Joseph is expected to appear in a US Federal Court tomorrow to answer the charge. Joseph, of Grand Curacaye, Lower Santa Cruz, was charged in March with kidnapping Maharaj.

He was one of eight persons wanted by the US for the kidnapping of Maharaj. Five others were served with provisional warrants two weeks ago — David Suchit, Zion Clarke, Private Ricardo De Four, Sgt Leon Nurse, and Kevon Demerieux. Their cases were adjourned to May 11. A sixth man, Winston Gittens, 38, of San Juan, consented on Monday to go to Washington to face trial. He is expected to leave soon.

Maharaj, 62, of Mount Vernon in New York, was kidnapped outside the Samaan Tree Bar, Aranjuez on April 5, 2005, and a $3 million ransom demanded. His remains were found in two barrels inside the Santa Cruz forest on January 9. To date, ten persons including three soldiers have been charged with Maharaj’s murder.

According to the Grand Jury indictment, Joseph was recruited two weeks prior to Maharaj’s kidnapping to drive the getaway vehicle. On the day of the kidnapping, Joseph met with the co-conspirators at Mellow Moods Bar to make final preparations.

Joseph, according to the Grand Jury indictment, changed number plates on the vehicle he drove. He drove the others to the Samaan Tree Bar and watched as Maharaj was snatched. He drove Maharaj to Grand Curacaye Road where the US citizen was handed over to others.

It is also alleged that Joseph went to the hideout where Maharaj, a Trinidadian, was kept and brought food for his co-conspirators. During the period in captivity, Maharaj became ill and died at the hands of his abductors.

The Grand Jury indictment claimed that Maharaj provided the cutlass which was used to dismember Maharaj’s body. It is alleged that he was present when Maharaj’s body parts were put in two containers.