A caiman-infested swamp located north of the Caroni river has been identified as the exact location where the body of kidnap victim Darryl Chotoo, 25, was dumped on the night of June 30.

On Wednesday afternoon, a 23-year-old Point Fortin man, who is the main suspect in the kidnapping of the father of one, accompanied officers of the North Eastern Division led by Sgt David Abraham to the swamp which he pointed out. The man reportedly told police officers that when Chotoo was kidnapped on the night of June 30 outside his El Socorro home, he resisted and was shot between his chest and stomach. He also claimed in a statement that Chotoo began bleeding heavily when he was forced into a black Nissan B-13 car. The bleeding man was driven several miles into a roadway north of the Caroni Post Office, where it was discovered that he had died. Chotoo was dragged from the car into bushes and his body dumped into the caiman-infested swamp. The car which was used to transport him was burnt and left in the area. That car has since been recovered by the police.

Police officers returned to the pond yesterday and carried out a search for other bits of evidence in their investigation. Investigators said yesterday that they have applied to the Coast Guard for their assistance in recovering the remains of his body. The Coast Guard officers are expected to search for the body on Saturday. Newsday learned that the man who pointed out the swamp to the police will be charged with Chotoo’s kidnapping. If the body is found, he will also be charged with murder but plans are afoot to use him as a witness in the kidnapping and murder of Chotoo. Two men have already been charged with the kidnapping. Three others who were detained in connection with the kidnapping were quizzed and released. Yesterday, one of Chotoo’s relatives told Newsday, “On one hand, we are hoping and praying that the body in the pond may not be him because it is a horrible way for a person to go and it will hurt us beyond words. “We would like closure on the matter, and if they find him or his remains at least, we will not be wondering what happened to him.” When Newsday visited the area yesterday, residents complained bitterly that the area is used to strip cars and carry out drug deals. They are calling for more restrictions to be placed in the area.

THE MURDER tally for the year now stands at 139, only 33 away from last year’s tally of 172, and there is still almost five months remaining in the year.

By contrast, the number of murders last year for the corresponding period stood at 81, police sources told Newsday yesterday.  Currently the murder rate is averaging 16 per month and senior police officials said they are optimistic that the murder rate could be kept on par with the 172. However, police said they are very mindful that the month of December usually accounts for the highest amount of killings, owing to the Christmas season and the many shows that accompany the festive season. Mother of four, Juliet Gonzales-Cummings was the country’s latest murder victim, having been stabbed to death by a man she knows.  A man has since been charged.

Police could not give the statistics for solved murders for the year, but Acting Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs said the Inter Agency Task Force, comprising police and army officials is responsible for solving 13 murders since its inception last May. Snaggs also said that the number of shootings and murders in the Laventille, Morvant and Belmont areas has slowed down considerably, given the trend that continued from last year into the early months of this year. The top cop also said that the Task Force has recovered 12 firearms, seized 93 rounds of ammunition and eight kilogrammes of marijuana. “The Unit will continue to aggressively implement its activities but will be physically closer to members of the community, in order to foster good relations and trust,” Snaggs said.

SCORES of villagers from Icacos turned up for the funeral service and cremation of convicted drug trafficker Mantoor Ramdhanie, who died in prison last week where he was serving a life sentence. However, missing from the funeral service was his son Deochan, who is also a convicted drug dealer serving life imprisonment.

While Deochan Ramdhanie may not have witnessed the funeral service and cremation of his father because he is currently incarcerated at the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) in Arouca, he did pay his last respects and even performed Aarti (Hindu funeral ritual) over his father’s body at Dass Funeral Home, Chaguanas on Wednesday. Ramdhanie, in an unprecedented move, was allowed two hours to say his final farewell to his father. He did so in style, having been taken to the funeral home in an air-conditioned Prisons Authority’s van and decked off in a tuxedo. Yesterday, close relatives and villagers wept openly as they remembered the man who reputedly built a multimillion-dollar fortune trading in drugs between the shores of Icacos and the Venezuelan mainland. Villagers who flocked to Ramdhanie’s home described him as the “Robin Hood” of the poverty-stricken rural district.

Ramdhanie, 59, and his son Deochan, 39, were jailed in 1998 and $3.3 million in assets were seized by the State under the Proceeds From Dangerous Drugs Act. Ramdhanie died from complications due to chronic diabetes, having served six years of the life sentence. The State released his body on Monday to the family after an autopsy was carried out. Ramdhanie leaves to mourn his wife, Una, 58, two other sons (who arrived from the United States specifically to attend the funeral) and a daughter. Ramdhanie’s body was transported in a 90-mile journey to his hometown in Icacos where Pundit Mannie of Coramandel performed Hindu prayers. Sitting next to his white casket, Ramdhanie’s wife, Una, removed the sindoor (mark on the forehead signifying marriage) from her forehead, officially proclaiming herself a widow. Una, who had to seek medical attention upon learning of her husband’s death, wept uncontrollably.

At the funeral service, Ramdhanie was described as a businessman who owned several coconut estates in Icacos. Mention was made of his fishing expeditions across Venezuela, as well as the grocery he established where he lived. Ramdhanie was born in Icacos. He shot into national prominence in the late 1980s when he became involved in confrontations with the police, which eventually ended in his arrest, conviction and imprisonment on drug charges. His house was searched on many occasions for drugs, but Ramdhanie was charged then with possession of a pellet gun and contraband whisky. He was freed of the charges. At the funeral service, Ramdhanie’s sister-in-law, Lena, was very outspoken during which she expressed anger over Ramdhanie’s prosecution as a drug trafficker. “My brother-in-law died with love. He loved everyone,” Lena said. Ramdhanie’s two sons and nephews, bore the body to the pyre at the Shore of Peace on the Mosquito Creek, La Romaine, where he was cremated. Attorneys for the family, Mark Seepersad and Gerald Ramdeen, mingled with relatives who were often seen consulting with them throughout the service and at the cremation site.

A CONFRONTATION between two businessmen over the placing of poison for ants at the premises ended in violence yesterday when one of the businessmen stabbed the other in his neck with a broken bottle.  

Police said Tony Sukhbir, 34, was stabbed by a 25-year-old man on the premises where both men are tenants. A bleeding Sukhbir was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) where he underwent emergency surgery. Police detained the suspect at the scene and up to late yesterday were  preparing to press charges against him. According to police sources, the incident occurred around 1 pm when Sukhbir and his wife, Seeta, were conducting sales at their businessplace — Tony’s Drug Mart — at Naparima/Mayaro Road, Cocoyea Village.

A shaken Seeta later reported to police that she had placed a quantity of poison in front of the Drug Mart to control and/or kill the pests. Shortly after placing the poison, she noticed the suspect washing it away with a hose. When she confronted the man and asked him why he was washing away the poison she had just placed on the premises, a heated argument ensued. Her husband intervened and the suspect began using obscene language. Witnesses told police that during the argument, the suspect smashed a bottle on a staircase and lunged at Sukhbir, stabbing him in the neck. Still reeling from shock, Seeta told police she saw blood spurting from the wound in her husband’s neck and that she put her hand over the wound to try to stem the blood flow. Meanwhile, other persons called the police. Sukhbir was reportedly resting in stable condition warded at SFGH. Cpl Mohammed and PC Singh of the Mon Repos Police are continuing investigations.

POLICE and Army officials of the Inter Agency Task Force set up by the Ministry of National Security yesterday recovered a large quantity of stolen jewelry, tyres, batteries and cocaine during a raid at Beetham Estate.

As a consequence of the find, three people ages 27, 29 and 53, were held in the exercise which started at 1 pm and ended two hours later after several homes were searched. The exercise was co-ordinated by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Oswyn Allard and Supt Errol Denoon. Police sources said the three men were held in two separate houses, and two of them have been detained in connection with the August 1 shooting death of former National Housing Authority (NHA) worker, Vernon Hospedales, who was found dead at his Twelfth Street, Beetham, home. The other man, police said, has been detained relative to the jewelry heist.  The 52 pieces of gold and silver jewelry, comprising chains, earrings, bracelets and ID bands have been estimated at $200,000. Police said the jewelry were reportedly stolen from jewel shops across the country.

Police are appealing to persons who were recently robbed of jewelry to report to the Besson Street Police Station today between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm to view and possibly identify the items which will be on display at the Criminal Investigations Department. However, police said, people coming to view the items will not be able to easily claim ownership of the jewelry.  Police sources told Newsday the bonafide owners must be able to give proper identification and possibly present receipts before seeing the jewelry items. Police said the recovered tyres and batteries were reportedly stolen from the Tyre Centre Company Limited, Wrightson Road, during a $500,000 breakin on August 1. The jewelry, tyres, batteries and the small quantity of cocaine were found in two separate houses. 

Officers taking part in yesterday’s exercise include Supt Gonzales, Insps Brereton, Ramnarine, Singh, Sgt Boyce and several others. It was only on Wednesday that National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee showered praises on the Inter Agency Task Force, saying they were responsible for making significant inroads, aimed at making Laventille residents feel safe.

KIDNAPPERS have for the year demanded $58,770,000 for the safe release of 33 kidnap victims, police sources told Newsday yesterday.

Of the huge sum, police sources said, only $1,900,000 have been paid to kidnappers.  Thirty one of the 33 victims have been returned to their families alive, while one — Damien Schneider — was murdered and another one, Darrell Chotoo is feared dead, but his body has not yet been found. Like murders, police said the 33 victims kidnapped for ransoms for this year has more than doubled the entire amount of last year, which stood at 15. Police sources said the ransom figure for those 15 is also far less than the $58,770,000 demanded so far for this year’s 33 kidnap victims. The total ransom demand figure asked for the 15 victims stood at TT$41 million and $US 2 million at the end of last year. Six million in TT dollars and US$13,000 were paid by their relatives and $127,000 was recovered by members of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS). Police sources said ten of the 33 kidnappings have been solved and 23 people charged, while five of last year’s 15 kidnappings for ransom were solved. The country’s most wanted man identified by police as 32-year-old Sheldon “Skelly” Lovell is among the 23 charged.

Lovell, of Morvant, and two other men referred to until yesterday only as “Fruity” and “Gumbo” are wanted for the July 17 kidnapping of teenagers Yves Ayoung Chee and Benedict Barrette at Marli Street, Newtown. The three men remained at large up to late evening and there are reports that Lovell has skipped the country.  However, senior AKS officials said this could be used as a ploy to throw the police off. They also noted that Trinidad and Tobago is surrounded by water and that Lovell could have left by boat. A legal source also said he heard of Lovell’s alleged skip.  Checks with airlines yesterday also came up futile.   An airline spokesman said they were asked to look out for the wanted man even before warrants were issued for the arrests of the three men. “If he has left the country, it would be under a different name and carrier,” the spokesman told Newsday. However, someone close to Lovell told Newsday that the most wanted man allegedly left the country dressed as a woman. The Crime Stoppers is offering a $100,000 reward for Lovell.  The figure was increased from $25,000 because of his alleged involvement in other kidnappings.

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will discuss energy matters over dinner tonight, with Chavez expected to return home either later this evening or early tomorrow morning. Due to the nature and timing of tonight’s talks, Chavez will be unable to accede to Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday’s request that he (Chavez) respond to Manning’s June 5 statement about a connection between political instability in Venezuela and crime in Trinidad and Tobago.

Panday yesterday expressed concern that crime was not on the agenda for tonight’s meeting between the two leaders. He said in light of Manning’s statement of June 5 and the crime situation in TT “this issue should be given priority” in tonight’s talks. Panday said he would appreciate if Chavez “could personally respond to Prime Minister Manning’s statement that Venezuela was responsible for the high crime rate in Trinidad.” However, addressing yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall hours earlier, the Prime Minister hinted that Chavez would be unable to grant Panday’s request. Manning said he telephoned Chavez last Thursday and the Venezuelan President agreed to come to Trinidad tonight. The Prime Minister explained that given Chavez’s tight schedule, he felt it best not to interfere with Chavez’s work day and the Venezuelan leader agreed to a working dinner. Accompanying Chavez will be Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Roy Chaderton Moses, Venezuelan Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez and TT’s Ambassador to Venezuela Sheelagh Osuna.

“Principally our agenda is an energy agenda,” the Prime Minister said. However, Manning did not exclude the possibility of other matters being discussed. Among the topics that Manning and Chavez will discuss at tonight’s meeting will be the development of Venezuelan natural gas reserves located in close proximity to TT’s maritime border with the South American republic, utilisation of Venezuelan natural gas in TT and an arrangement where TT and Venezuela supply petroleum products to Caricom. Manning said while Chavez will be on a “whirlwind visit” to Trinidad, both leaders are optimistic that tonight’s meeting will be “very productive.” Both countries reached an agreement in 1990 which established maritime borders between them and dealt with joint energy reserves. Government sources say Manning and Chavez are expected to develop a clear policy on how to shares these reserves, where resources and borders overlap. Venezuelan Ambassador to TT, Hector Azocar said a key element in tonight’s talks would be joint venture energy cooperation in the Deltana Platforma region. Chavez arrives in Trinidad today at 4 pm but a news conference with the Venezuelan President which was scheduled for the Hilton Trinidad at 10 am tomorrow, has been brought forward to this afternoon.

AFTER 33 days drifting in the open sea, staring death every second, two fisherman and their friend who were deemed “lost at sea” returned home yesterday singing praises to the Lord and vowing not to return to sea anytime soon.

The men, Anil Ramsook, Joseph Ramkissoon, both Tobago fishermen and Andy John White, a tradesman from Sangre Grande, arrived at the Piarco International airport around 12.35 pm yesterday, aboard BW 832. They were rescued off Mexico’s coast on July 28. Greeting them on arrival at Piarco were  Mexican Ambassador Rosalba Ojeda and Carl Francis, Chief of Protocol of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The men were medically examined by a doctor attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being ushered into the VIP lounge, where relatives eagerly greeted them with hugs, kisses and tears of joy. White, 28, who suffered the most from the ordeal, appeared unwell and opted not to speak to the media. Instead he chatted with his brother Wendell Jones, who told reporters, he (Jones) always believed White to be alive. He said he never expected the men to drift as far away as Mexico. White is to undergo further medical tests here in Trinidad. His skin bore burn marks as did his feet, which caused him to limp slightly. Ramkissoon and Ramsook were later flown to Tobago by the TT Coast Guard. Ramkissoon, 29, spoke  of the unforgettable and traumatic experience. He  said they were happy to be home and thanked God for life. Both he and Ramsook appeared a bit frail but in good spirits.

Ramkissoon said during the 33 days adrift, in bad weather and strong currents, they prayed constantly hoping to see land or a boat which could help them. They never saw land, but  saw oil tankers and ships. Ramkissoon said no one stopped to help. He was unable to say if they were seen, but nevertheless he said it was frustrating. He said they survived on small portions of raw fish and rain water.  The rain which fell was a blessing for them, but Ramkissoon said only when they were rescued did they learn they had survived two storms. He said they talked all the time to each other and when the sun shone, they stayed naked in the pirogue, while their clothes were put to dry. Ramkissoon, who was described as a religious person by his sister-in-law, Donna Simmons, said White suffered the most, as he was not a fisherman and  he was not accustomed to the open sea and sun. He  said it was difficult to talk about their experiences, since they had given up hope on several occasions, but continued to urge  White to keep faith. The rescued men decided that if they survived they would give their lives to God. Ramkissoon’s advice for fisherfolk is  to make sure to keep on board their vessels, lots of food, water and clothes in preparation for any eventuality.

He and Ramsook, 26 of Lowlands, Tobago said they were staying away from the sea for a while but appealed to Government or anyone to give them jobs to help them continue to support their families. The men left Shallows Bay, Pigeon Point, Tobago on June 25 in a pirogue “Sea Eagle” for an eight hour trip. Their planned return at around 4 pm that day never materialised because of engine failure. Ramkissoon’s cellphone also lost power cutting his communication with relatives in Carnbee, Tobago. A search was subsequently mounted for the men. Authorities felt they were lost at sea. However last week, on July 28, members of the Mexican Army, on patrol 15 kilometres from Cayo Culebra, Quaintana Roo, off the coast of Mexico, spotted the pirogue and its occupants.  Their initial intention to carry out a routine search for arms and drugs turned into a rescue mission. Local authorities were notified and the men who at times lost consciousness, were immediately taken for medical attention. White, the most serious of the three, had to be transferred to the Medical Centre of Playa del Carmen, where he was hospitalised for a few days. Upon his recovery, the trio were kept under the charge of Dr Fernando Sada Tamez, delegate of the National Immigration Institute, who fed and clothed them until they were fully recuperated to travel home.

A Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard plane touched down at Crown Point Airport around 3.25 pm yesterday bringing home two of the three Tobago fishermen who had miraculously survived a 33-day ordeal drifting at sea.

From Pigeon Point, Tobago, to the coast of Mexico where they were rescued by that country’s Coast Guard, the physical and moreso the emotional strain had taken its toll and Joseph Ramkisoon could take no more. He made this clear as he and Anil “Busshead” Ramsook sat in the Coast Guard jeep that had driven them from the tarmac to outside the Terminal Building, where his pregnant wife and other teary-eyed relatives waited. “No! we are tired; we go through enough, we go through so many different things; right now we are tired, and it make us sad to go through so many more,” Ramkisoon told Newsday through the window of the jeep as media representatives, relatives and friends crowded around. “I can go through this, but for now it’s too much for me, because we just come from Trinidad. It was sad, and just now there it’s like tears, I have to wear my ‘darkers’,” he pleaded.

Earlier on the tarmac, where they were met by Acting THA Chief Secretary Cynthia Alfred, they explained that the third survivor, Andy “Killer” White was kept in Trinidad for further medical attention. The three had gone fishing out of Pigeon Point on June 26. Ramkisoon said their troubles began when they realised that the gasoline was saturated with water which got into the filters and engine heads of the two 85hp outboard engines causing them to shut down. By the time they got them fixed, they were too far from shore with very little gas.