Kidnap victim disappears, so six suspects released

LESS than 24 hours after she was rescued from kidnappers, Port-of-Spain business woman Michelle Rostant has disappeared, causing police to release her six alleged kidnappers. According to reports, shortly after being rescued at an abandoned house at Plaissance Park in Laventille on Friday evening, Rostant, 31, told police she was going home for a change of clothes and would go to police headquarters later to make a statement. Newsday later spoke to Rostant at her Sneakers Korner business in Hadeed Plaza, Port-of-Spain, where she indicated she was going home for a change of clothes. Police sources said she did not return to headquarters and has not been seen since. Newsday was also informed that a relative told police that she flew out of the country, but refused to say where, or when she will return.

“Based on no statement, and since none of her associates were able to identify the men, we were forced to release the six suspects,” police sources said. Rostant was kidnapped on Thursday night outside her store and rescued on Friday evening in Laventille. Her abductors at first demanded $25,000, then $50,000, and an additional $100,000 after her associates claimed they had paid the second figure, but the kidnappers said they had only received part and were demanding more. When Newsday attempted then to speak to personnel at Sneakers Korner, we were ushered out and told that Rostant’s life was in grave danger if they did not come up with the money. No one would confirm if the final sum demanded was paid. Six men were arrested guarding the building in which Michelle was found, but all have since been released. Police said they have hit a wall in their investigations without a statement.