Six charged with false kidnapping

OFFICERS of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) yesterday charged six people with wasteful employment of the police and conspiracy to defraud families out of their money, arising out of two false kidnapping reports. In confirming the arrests and charges, AKS chief Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes told Newsday that such action will not be tolerated by the police. “We hope people will stop doing this because the whole country is panicking and citizens are afraid.  We will deal with them accordingly,” Reyes stated categorically. The six, one of whom is a woman, have been charged in connection with two kidnapping reports, both of which recently occurred in the Southland.  They were held between Wednesday morning and the same night.

Victims in both instances were released after a total of $400,000 was demanded for their safe release.  In one of the kidnapping, two men have been charged and they are to put in a court appearance today at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Courts. The victim in that kidnapping claimed to have been transported to another island where he was released after reportedly being tied up and placed in a van. It was later learned by the police that he was liming.  No one saw when he was reportedly snatched Monday and relatives only knew of his kidnapping when kidnappers called the following morning asking for $200,000.  The two were charged by PC Williams and the matter is expected to be postponed and transferred to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court. In the other kidnapping where the kidnappers allegedly threatened to put the victim’s head in a box, four people, who are closely related, are also due to appear before a San Fernando Magistrate today. That kidnapping occurred on September 25 and a $200,000 ransom was demanded.  The 19-year-old was found about one week after the alleged kidnapping.  No one saw when the victim, who works in the oil industry, was snatched either.  It was later discovered that he wanted to extort money from one of his parents.