Kidnapped Moruga man released

MOMENTS after kidnap victim Avalon Paul was released by his captors early yesterday morning, he left to go to his Moruga home to ensure that his wife and children were okay. He then went to the police, reported his kidnapping and was whisked away by members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) to be interviewed.

Up to late yesterday evening, Paul was still being questioned by AKS police at CID Headquarters in Port-of-Spain. He was slashed about his face with a razor blade, beaten and then dragged into a car on Tuesday night by four masked, armed men who were searching for cocaine, which had washed ashore at Gran Chemin beach two Mondays ago. Police sources remained tip-lipped about details surrounding the release of Paul, saying only that he was dropped off along the Uriah Butler Highway around 3 am yesterday. Police suspect Paul was kidnapped because his abductors believed he knew the whereabouts of the cocaine.

Yesterday relatives told Newsday that after Paul was dropped off, he made his way home where he met his common-law-wife, Salisha Mohammed and their two children — Jameel, three, and Jamal 11 months.  According to relatives, Paul’s face was caked in dried blood caused by deep slashes he suffered at the hands of his captors. He told relatives that he had been blindfolded, tied up and badly beaten by his abductors who kept questioning him about the cocaine. Paul was reported to be scared the kidnappers might come looking for him again. Paul then went to the Chaguanas police station where he reported the incident to police. He was taken for medical treatment at the Chaguanas District Health Centre. Police sources said Paul returned to the station where he was further interviewed by AKS officers, who then took him to Port-of-Spain.