KIDNAPPING OF US WAR VETERAN

ONE of the men wanted by the United States for the kidnapping of United States war veteran Balram “Balo” Maharaj, came close to tears yesterday when his case was put off once again.

David Suchit had been sitting in the court corridors all morning when Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls called his name just before midday.

When he was told that his case was being adjourned to June 26, a teary-eyed Suchit blurted out, “I lock up since the 20th of April. It is overbearing, I don’t even know these other people who are charged with me.”

Suchit said he had seen in the newspapers that he is going to be a witness against the other wanted persons.

“That is not true, I never saw them before I came to court. I only coming to court and going back to prison. I am getting frustrated. I know nothing about that,” Suchit told the court.

Suchit appeared in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court with four others — Zion Clarke, Private Ricardo De Four, Sgt Leon Nurse, and Kevon Demerieux.

The five are wanted in Washington DC for hostage-taking, resulting in the death of Maharaj. Maharaj, 62, was kidnapped outside the Samaan Tree Bar in Aranjuez on April 5, 2005. His remains were dug up from a shallow grave in Grand Curacaye, Santa Cruz, on January 8 this year.

David West, who represents the US Government, informed the court that the extradition papers have been sent from the United States to the US Embassy in Port-of-Spain.

He said the papers would then go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before they reach his office at the Ministry of the Attorney General.

West said he would be ready to proceed with the extradition hearing on the next occasion. The defence did not object to the case being adjourned to June 26.

Two persons have already been extradited to Washington DC to face the charges — truck driver Russell ‘Saucy’ Joseph, and Winston Gittens, a taxi driver.