Alleged Chotoo kidnapper ailing

The third man charged in connection with the kidnapping of 29-year-old construction worker Darryl Chotoo failed to appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court for the second time yesterday after he was admitted to the prison infirmary. Lester Solomon, 22, labourer, was charged with the June 30 kidnapping by PC Snaggs following consultation with Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson. Chotoo, father of one, was reportedly taken from his El Socorro home by armed men who forced their way into the house and bundled Chotoo into a waiting car.

Solomon, who appeared in court on Monday and was to re-appear in court on both Tuesday and Wednesday, is nursing a gunshot wound to his leg which he sustained late last month. According to police officers attached to the court, he complained of unbearable pain in his leg while he was being loaded into the prisoners’ escort vehicle. He was then warded at the infirmary and his name was removed from the court list. Solomon is expected to re-appear today.