Carenage cops arrest two in yachties’ kidnapping

CARENAGE police believe they have made a major breakthrough in the robbery and kidnapping of two New Zealand yachties in Chaguaramas a month ago. They also believe they would be able to solve more than two dozen robberies which occurred in the area, with the arrest of two Carenage men. Following information and an exercise on Wednesday, the two men, ages 21 and 22 and well known to the police, were held.

Followed by days of identification parades and interrogation, the two men will appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate on Monday charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, several ammunition possession and robbery charges amounting to more than 30 in all. On June 26 yachties Robert Woods and Michelle Bowes were on their way back to Crews Inn, after spending a day at the Chaguaramas Golf Course, when they picked up two men to give them a lift. During the drive, one of the men placed a gun to Woods’ neck and ordered him to drive to School Street, Carenage where they met other persons and where the car was also hidden.

The couple was then taken to Port-of- Spain, where they were forced to withdraw cash from an ATM to buy food, jewelry and drinks.
They were later taken back to School Street where they were released. A report was later made to the Carenage police. Police sources confirm the arrest of two more persons related to the same incident is imminent. The couple has since left the country vowing never to return. A team of officers including Sgt. Joefield, PCs Mitchell, Arneaud, Nantan and Julien took part in the exercise. Sgt. Joefield laid the charges.