Rental leads cops to kidnapper

Police learnt that the car used to transport Mahabir was a vehicle rented to a suspended police officer, and subsequent investigations led them to the officer’s home.

The man who rented the vehicle to the officer provided the name to the police, and AKS officers waited on Saturday morning to nab the suspect when he was due to return the car. When the man failed to turn up, a warrant was obtained and the officer was held at his home.

After spending the weekend in a cell at the Port-of-Spain CID, the GEB officer was taken to the Central-based office of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad yesterday, where he was interrogated.

Mahabir was found unharmed by police in Maracas/St Joseph yesterday afternoon, two days after the policeman’s arrest.

A $2 million ransom was demanded for Mahabir’s safe release.

Investigators yesterday said the tip proved to be very useful and they called on other members of the public to work hand in hand with the police in fighting crime.

Yesterday, relatives of another kidnap victim, Joey Alexander, a director at Nakayama Imports, expressed concern over his safety.

Alexander was kidnapped last Thursday night at St Helena and a ransom demanded for his safe release.

Relatives said yesterday they are still awaiting word from kidnappers.