Man in court for ransom $$

Jesten Superville appeared before Ag Chief Magistrate Maria Busby Earle-Caddle charged with being in possession $2,500 on July 1, at Picton Road in Laventille. The money represented proceeds of a ransom paid for the release of Laing.

The charge was laid indictably so Superville was not called on to enter a plea. In objecting to bail, court prosecutor Insp Wayne Mohammed said Superville has a prior conviction in 2007 and pending matters dating back to March of this year. He also indicated that investigations into the kidnapping are ongoing.

In her ruling, Earle-Caddle indicated that she viewed the pending matters to be of a serious nature and was denying bail. She however advised Superville of his right to apply to a judge in Chambers for bail.

At present the prosecution has eight potential witnesses and this number could increase as investigations continue. Superville is represented by attorney Criston J Williams and will return to court on August 7.

Superville was charged on Saturday, a day after a High Court judge ordered the police to lay a charge or release him. He was one of two people who filed writs of habeas corpus in the High Court to force the police to justify their continued detention. In an order following the hour long hearing, Justice Ricky Rahim said while he was satisfied that the continued detention of the two was not unlawful, if no charges are laid against either man by 11.30 am Saturday, they are to be released from police custody.

The other man was released on Saturday while two others were released on July 1.

Laing, 53, owner of Puff n’ Stuff chain of bakeries was snatched from outside his San Fernando branch around 3 am on Thursday June 29. Relatives were contacted by a kidnapper who demanded $270,000 for his safe return. Relatives first went to Phase 1 in Beetham and paid $30,000 to kidnappers and shortly before 5 pm that day, they paid $240,000 in Barataria. Laing was released hours later.

On July 1, a joint team of police officers swooped down on Alicia’s Guest House, located on Lady Chancellor Hill, surrounded two rooms and detained three of seven suspects in Laing’s kidnapping. Officers searched two rooms and detained the three suspects who were in possession of cash, cell phones and other valuables.

All seven suspects were taken to different police stations and were being questioned by a joint team of police officers.

The arrest of the seven suspects came after hours of surveillance following Laing’s release on Thursday afternoon