Ceramic worker feared kidnapped, African missing

WESTERN Division police and family members of ceramic worker Khalid Ali were fearing the worst last night after the family vehicle he was last seen in was discovered yesterday — minus Ali. Police found the gold and beige vehicle, in the Cocorite Terrace area yesterday and officers under Sgt Nandram Moonilal later inspected the vehicle, but found no traces of blood. His family are now of the opinion that Ali, 46, of Swami Avenue, El Socorro, had been kidnapped, but up to late last night no ransom calls had been received. “We are keeping the lines open and hoping that he is returned to us safely.  We are scared.  You hear these things on the news but you never believe it would reach your home,” Ali’s sister, Sharieen said from their El Socorro home.

Ali disappeared Wednesday night from outside the Seventh Day Adventist Community Hospital, Western Main Road, Cocorite, St James. Sharieen said Khalid and another brother, Afzal, along with their father, Rafik Ali left their home around 8 pm Wednesday to take their father to the St James institution after he suffered an asthma attack. From their home, Sharieen, surrounded by relatives, said their father was taken into the Emergency area, where Rafik was attended to and warded.  He was discharged Thursday. She told Newsday that Afzal then went to do some paper work, leaving Khalid in the vehicle a short distance away.  “I told him to stay and breeze off,” Afzal said yesterday. After Afzal completed the paper work, and on checking, Afzal said his brother and the car could not be located.  Checks were made but they came up futile, and as a result, a report was made to the St James Police Station.

Both Afzal and Sharieen said their missing brother would never leave to go anywhere without letting family members know. “He would never do that.  Please return him safely. He has a hole in his heart,” she pleaded, pointing out that he does not have a mental condition. Another family member said security officials at the Community Hospital told relatives they saw when Khalid left the hospital, and that he was alone in the car. But Sharieen reiterated that her brother would never leave without telling family members. “He does not have friends and does not fete.  We live a very quiet and peaceful life,” Sharieen said. In yet another missing person incident, officers of the Carenage Police Station were exploring all avenues to locate an African national, Jean Jacques Asseu, who went missing at sea on August 20. A report was made only on August 22, police said.  Asseu, 20, came to Trinidad with a relative aboard a yacht, Soltana, on July 22. On August 8, police said Asseu went with a dinghy to purchase foodstuff at Powerboats. Since then he has not been seen, but police said his dinghy was located, tied up at Powerboats. After making several futile searches, police said Asseu’s brother-in-law, John Norman Hasen, reported the matter on August 22. Acting Cpl Francis of the Carenage Police Station is investigating.