$325,000 bail for phony kidnappers

Five persons accused of staging the kidnapping of Renee Hickson were granted bail yesterday by Magistrate Jo-Ann Connor at the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court. Hickson, 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 Hickson (Renee Hickson’s cousin and guardian) during the period July 21-24. They are also charged with wasteful employment of police during the same period, and fraudulently obtaining $20,000 from Arthur Hinkson on July 24. They are also charged with demanding $500,000 by menaces from Hinkson at Gulf City, San Fernando on July 24. The charges were laid indictably by PC Nirmal Ramjattan of the St Joseph CID following consultation with Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Carla Browne-Antoine and ACP Crime Oswyn Allard.

Hickson was represented by defence attorney Samantha Lawson, Mc Bernie by Ulric Skerrit and Edghill and Bones by Varoude Badrie-Maharaj. Audain was not represented by an attorney. Connor had denied bail on Tuesday, saying that she would need to review the defendants’ criminal records before she could do so. The tracing showed that none of the accused persons had any previous or pending matters before the Courts. She granted bail in the sum of $25,000 to Hickson and $75,000 to the others. The matter was adjourned to August 22. The five are expected to appear in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court today for demanding money by menaces charge.