Demand made for money, guns, jewelry

A former murder accused and Kelly Village businessman was kidnapped Thursday night and the abductors are demanding $2 million in cash and an undisclosed amount of guns and jewelry for his release. According to reports, Chris Elves, 35, was liming outside his Bassie Street home at Spring Village with a friend around 8.30 pm, when a white car with two armed men wearing bandanas over their faces pulled up and forced him into the car. Some time later his relatives received the demands.

When Newsday visited the family home, no one was present, but residents described him as a good man, who had changed his ways and was now leading a different life. His wife was recently sentenced to eight years imprisonment for possession of cocaine for trafficking. in 1998 Elves was arrested with Mahadeo Mootee for the murder of Valsayn pig farmer Thockoor Boodram. Both men were eventually freed at the Tunapuna magistrates’ court and he later turned state witness against ten other men who were eventually found guilty and sentenced to hang.

Elves is the proprietor of Kelly Village Recreation Club. His name has been associated with several underworld activities and the seizure of large quantities of cocaine for export. Thackoor Boodram was the brother of hanged drug king pin Dole Chadee. In previous conversations with Newsday, Elves indicated he had received threats since his release,  but had ignored them. Police believe the kidnapping is drug related. The Anti-Kidnapping Squad is investigating.