Phony kidnappers and their ‘victim’ denied bail

A Curepe girl and four Tunapuna men, charged in connection with a hoax kidnapping, were denied bail yesterday when they appeared before Magistrate JoAnn Connor at the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court.

Renee Hinkson, 17, UWI Sixth Form student; Carlbert Audain, 23, PH taxi-driver, of Basilon Street; Michael Edghill, 20, PH taxi-driver, of Henry Road; Kenyouth Mc Bernie, 21, machine operator, of New Street and Allister Bones, 22, of Achong Trace, were charged on Monday with conspiracy to extort the sum of $500,000 from Arthur Hinkson (Renee Hinkson’s cousin and guardian) during the period July 21-24, wasteful employment of police during the same period and fraudulently obtaining $20,000 from Arthur Hinkson on July 24. Audain is also separately charged with demanding $500,000 from Hinkson at Gulf City, San Fernando on July 24. The charges were laid indictably by PC Ramjattan following consultation with DPP Geoffrey Henderson and ACP Crime Oswyn Allard. The five stood silent with their hands behind their backs throughout the proceedings.

When defence attorney Samantha Lawson, representing Renee Hinkson, made an application for bail, the police prosecutor informed the Court that no tracing of the defendant’s criminal records had been done hence bail could not be granted. Lawson then voiced her displeasure by saying that her client was in custody since Saturday, but her submission was curtailed by the interjection of the magistrate. “They were charged yesterday, and tracing cannot be embarked upon until the client has been charged,” declared Connor. Defence attorneys Ulric Skerrit, who represents Mc Bernie, and Varoudr Badrie-Maharaj, who represents Edghill and Bones, made an application for the disclosure of all documents pertaining to the matter including statements given to the police by the accused persons. Connor noted the request and asked the prosecution to comply. Connor pointed out to the prosecution that the charge laid separately against Audain was a San Fernando matter and transferred it to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court for Friday. The other matters were adjourned to Thursday when the five will re-appear in the Tunapuna Magistrates’ First Court. When the five were led away, family members who had almost filled the court, congregated around the attorneys expressing their concern for their incarcerated relatives.