Senior Reporter
akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt
The head of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) is warning business owners to watch the friends that they keep and to also refrain from revealing their every movement on social media.
So far this year there have been five reported kidnappings for ransom, according to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) website.
However, that figure may be incorrect as there were no reports recorded since September even though businessman Sachel Kungebeharry was abducted in September and his body was later found in a shallow grave.
In October, Moruga businessman Terrence Thomas and his worker were also kidnapped and robbed by ‘fake’ cops.
Businessman Suvesh Ramnarine, who was also kidnapped in October, was freed on Wednesday. However, it was not immediately clear if the ransom demand of $ 3 million was met.
Questions were sent to the TTPS’ Communications Department yesterday for more up-to-date figures.
AKU head, Senior Superintendent Claire Guy-Alleyne told Guardian Media while the profiles of perpetrators varied, “the only common thing we are seeing is businesspeople” being targeted.
Without pointing to any particular case, Guy-Alleyne suggested that some of the kidnappings being seen in the country may be drug-related, but said there are different trends seen with respect to these crimes.
“You are seeing it’s mostly businessmen, and then you may see some type of suspected illegal activity that is triggering things,” she said.
In light of recent kidnappings, Guy-Alleyne warned people to be careful how much information they share with people claiming to be friends on social media.
“Be very aware of your surroundings, be very aware of the information—personal or financial—or family information that you share. There are people you are not supposed to share personal or intimate information with because you don’t know who they are connected with. Be alert. If there is anything that you are suspicious about, seek advice from an attorney or even the TTPS,” the senior superintendent urged.
“Sometimes it’s social media; sometimes you may think people are your friends in your circle, and you share too much information that can lead to detriment. You know sometimes on social media people put their whereabouts, and they put everything about their families. That is too much information,” Guy-Alleyne stressed.
The AKU head said oversharing by business people allowed would-be perpetrators to predict their movement, making them easy targets. She advised that if something seems strange, it probably is, and added that business owners must keep their wits about them even in social situations.
Commenting directly on the case of Ramnarine, she pointed out he was allegedly abducted by people purporting to be police officers.
Guy-Alleyne said if faced with a similar situation, people should “make a call, have the station police district that you can call to verify if you are not certain.”
The senior superintendent also advised the family members of kidnapped victims to avoid any private meet-ups with abductors.
“Trust law enforcement, and try not to do things on your own,” she warned. Asked what are the major hurdles that the AKU faces in dealing with reports of kidnapping, Guy-Alleyne said she must be careful not to reveal too much as kidnappings must be handled differently compared to other crimes.
“We are seeing where when the police let out too much information about kidnappings, you just make the perpetrator get a little bit brighter and they clean up what they did before. Because when you’re into kidnapping, sometimes it’s a ring, and if the TTPS keeps saying what they did during their investigations and some of the hurdles that they meet, you may just be strengthening the perpetrators, so you have to be very, very careful when you’re speaking about kidnappings,” she explained.
In February, Debe farmer Arshad Mohammed was kidnapped and beaten at his family’s Woodland Garden home in Couva.
In May, doubles vendor Anisha Hosein-Singh was abducted in the early morning while setting up for business. She was subsequently released.
In July, Chaguanas consultant Komal Maharaj was kidnapped and taken to Venezuela, only to be released after his family paid a ransom.
In August, San Fernando resident and a driver employed at DH Movers Andrew Persadie was kidnapped and strangled to death. His body was found in Princes Town.
