No ransom paid

A 28-year-old woman who was kidnapped outside her Cunupia home on Sunday night, managed to free herself around 2.30 pm yesterday and made her way to the Cumuto Main Road where she flagged down a passing police vehicle.

Natasha Ali, who appeared dazed and in a state of shock alerted police officers that she was kidnapped on Sunday. She was taken to the Arima Hospital where she was treated for cuts and bruises. Late yesterday, she was resting comfortably at her home while friends and relatives gathered outside to lend support. Police investigators told Newsday that Ali who works in her father’s business place Patos auto supplies reported to them that she left her home on Sunday to visit friends in San Juan. She claimed that around 10 pm, she drove into the yard of her home when she was confronted by three men who pushed her into the grey Audi car and drove to an unknown location. She added that her hands and feet were bound and she was blindfolded.

She said she was kept among bushes for the entire night. Ali claimed that the kidnappers asked her several questions but they did not harm her. She suffered mosquito and insect bites but she prayed throughout the night hoping to be reunited with her family. Ali’s chance for freedom came around 2 pm yesterday when she realised that the kidnappers had long abandoned her. She managed to untie herself and made her way out of the bushes located somewhere between Wallerfield and Cumuto close to the car race track. She walked for more than 15 minutes until she saw the Cumuto Main Road.

Cpl Brown and others from the Cumuto Police Station who were on their way to join other officers for a roadblock exercise in La Horquetta were stopped by Ali who informed them that she was a kidnap victim. She was taken to the Arima Hospital and treated. Police investigators claimed that around 1 am yesterday, a male caller telephoned the home of Ali and told her father Rasheed that his daughter was kidnapped and if they wanted her back home they had to pay $100,000 for her safe return.

The Cunupia police were alerted and a party of officers led by Snr Supt Carmona, ASP Bernard, Inspector Kirk and others went to the scene. They were later joined by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad. An emotional but relieved Ali told Newsday that he kept praying for the safety of his daughter and now that she is back home he intends to have a prayer meeting at his home. He thanked the police, friends and relatives who supported him in his ordeal. In 1996, Jennifer Ali, another daughter was kidnapped. An undisclosed amount of cash was paid for her freedom. Ali said that he is is now living in fear for the safety of his family and is contemplating his future in the wake of a spate of kidnappings. Cpl Issac of the Anti Kidnapping Squad is investigating.