Cops quiz 3 in Chotoo’s kidnapping

BARATARIA police were up to late evening questioning three men in connection with the kidnapping of Darrell Chotoo, who is feared dead by police.

Chotoo, 25, was snatched by four armed men on June 30 at his El Socorro, San Juan home and a ransom of $300,000 was subsequently demanded. However, he was reportedly shot during a struggle with the kidnappers and is believed to have died the same day he was grabbed. The three men, whose ages range between 19 and 28, of El Socorro and San Juan, were picked up by police around 3 am yesterday in the Barataria and San Juan areas. They were held during a combined exercise including officers from the North Eastern and Northern Divisions. It was spearheaded by Ag Snr Supt Bishop and Insp Coa and carried out by Sgt Abraham, Cpls James, Jacobs and Maharaj of the Arima CID and PCs Frederick and Marsleir.

Police sources said the three men told them that they were in the Caroni area when some people brought Chotoo, who they claimed was alive then. The three men also reportedly told the police that they were not involved in Chotoo’s kidnapping and suspected murder. However, police said they will continue to question the men until they are satisfied that there is insufficient evidence to charge the three. Police said they were told that Chotoo had died as a result of the bullet wound to his chest and his body dumped in the Caroni River. However, several searches in the vicinity proved futile.  Police said a helicopter as well as dogs were used in the futile searches. Following the revelation that Chotoo might be dead, police charged two men,  Kasib “Jep” Celestine and Nicholas Smith with kidnapping Chotoo and demanding money by menaces respectively.

Meantime, a fourth man was also arrested by the same police party in connection with the July 16 shooting of Lester Solomon, 23, of Cap-de-Ville. Caretaker Andy Boodoo was walking north on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in the vicinity of Moonan Road, Wallerfield, when he stumbled upon an unconscious Solomon, whose body bore gunshot wounds to the legs and abdomen. The police were contacted and a party of officers including Cpl Maraj and PC Pamphille visited the scene and conducted investigations. Solomon was first taken to the Arima Health Facility after which he was transferred to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he is reported stable and under police guard.