KIDNAPPERS KNEW WHO THEY WANTED

AS the search continued yesterday for kidnapped victim, Kerri Greaves, 21, members of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) are of the opinion that the woman’s kidnappers knew exactly who they wanted.

Police said they do not share the belief that it was a case of mistaken identity as claimed by Greaves’ father, Neale Greaves, manager of the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) Terminal Mall. The kidnap victim, who was snatched for a ransom Wednesday night, is also the daughter of Newsday’s senior reporter Debra Greaves. Police said they are mystified about the kidnapping since the family is not wealthy.

The theory of mistaken identity has been dismissed because Greaves reported being followed about three weeks ago. A report was also made to the Belmont Police Station that men in a black vehicle had been following Greaves and in one instance tried to grab her, but she got away. On the night of the kidnapping in Maraval, Greaves was in company with a friend, Vanessa Phillip, both of whom are members of the Lighthouse Ministries, Duke Street, Port-of-Spain.  Phillip’s father is the church’s Pastor. Police also said that if it was a case of mistaken identity the kidnappers would not have asked the women “which one is Vanessa” and then say they wanted the slim one. Greaves, 21, is slim built.

As the investigations continued yesterday, police said they had made no breakthrough into what is the 15th kidnapping for ransom for the year.
However, up to late evening, AKS officers continued to question a Maraval man who is described as a close friend of Kerri. The man is being held at the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Police sources said he was detained because too many “untoward things” occurred just before the kidnapping. A business student at the School of Business and Computer Science, Greaves was snatched from the corner of Scott Hill and Saddle Road, Maraval, by four men dressed in black and wearing what police said were black hoods.

They placed the women into a black B13 Nissan Sentra vehicle and drove around for sometime before throwing Phillip out at Morvant Junction.
During the trip, the men placed masks over the faces of both women and kept telling each other to “pass the guns” and threatened the women to keep their heads down or else they will be shot. The family has so far received two telephone calls, both of which came on Thursday afternoon. In one instance, a male voice asked for a ransom demand.

Up to late evening, however, the family had heard no further word from the kidnappers.  They are very worried as Kerri was released from the Mount Hope Hospital last Sunday and is said to be very sick.  The family yesterday continued their appeal for the kidnappers to release her, since they stated they have no money and are not involved in any illegal activities and do not have any extra revenue-earning business. AKS officers under Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes is continuing investigations.