Three suspects in Darrell Chotoo kidnapping released

THREE people who were picked up by the police for questioning in connection with the June 30 kidnapping of Darrell Chotoo have been released pending further investigations. The three, whose ages range between 19 and 28, of El Socorro and San Juan, were held by police around 3 am on Thursday in the Barataria and San Juan areas during a combined exercise including officers from the North Eastern and Northern Divisions. It was spearheaded by Ag Snr Supt Waldron Bishop and Insp Coa and carried out by Sgt Abraham, Cpls James, Jacobs and Maharaj of the Arima CID and PCs Frederick and Marsleir. The three were released late Saturday evening, but North Eastern Division detectives said their investigations with the three are far from over.

Police sources said the three men told them that they were in the Caroni area when some people brought Chotoo, whom they claimed was alive. The three men also reportedly told the police that they were not involved in Chotoo’s kidnapping and the suspected murder. Chotoo, 25, became a suspected murder victim based on information police received.  He was snatched by four armed men from 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. 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.