Cops rescue kidnapped store owner

KIDNAPPED Port-of-Spain businesswoman Michelle Rostant was rescued by police after spending 19 hours in captivity. Six men are currently assisting police in their investigations. When Newsday visited Rostant, 31, at Sneaker Korner in Hadeed Plaza, Henry Street, the frightened but relieved woman gave a detailed account of her kidnapping and rescue. “At about 8 pm after closing the store, I was about to enter my car opposite the business place, when two armed gunmen came up, ordered my boyfriend and other passengers out, and then drove away with me. During the drive they blindfolded me and tied my hands and feet. “I was taken to an unknown location and then to another house where my hands and feet were untied and the blindfold removed. Sometime later, police broke down the door and I was rescued.”

The mother of two could not say if anyone was arrested or if any ransom money was paid. She also claimed she was not ill-treated during her ordeal. After her abduction Thursday night, the kidnappers demanded $25,000 for her release, then upped the ransom to $50,000. Sometime later around 9 am, an associate of Michelle told Newsday they had paid $50,000 and the kidnappers were giving them the runaround by demanding another $100,000 for her release. Police confirmed that based on information around 3 pm a team of officers from the Inter agency Task Force, the Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, the Special Anti Crime Unit, the Besson Street Criminal Investigation Department under acting Insp Sahadeo Singh, went to an abandoned wooden house at Point Plaisance Park, Block 22 Laventille Road, where they held six men, who are not from the area. They then broke down a bolted door and rescued the startled woman.

The woman was then handed over to member of the AKS and taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where she was examined and discharged. Police could not confirm if any money was paid. Also visiting the scene was ACP Piggot who congratulated the men on the rescue.