Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:13 hours 24 min ago
The Balo Maharaj kidnapping
De Four’s alibi records destroyed
Published: 26 Oct 2009
From left: RICARDO DE FOUR and KEITH SCOTLAND
Former soldier Ricardo de Four, one of seven Trinidadians convicted of taking US citizen, Balram “Balo” Maharaj hostage, may never get the chance to prove that he was at Camp Omega, Chaguaramas, on the day that Maharaj was kidnapped. The records which could have given him an alibi, have been destroyed by the T&T Regiment, according to a statement from the Ministry of National Security, acting in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Maharaj, 62, was kidnapped on April 6, 2005, from Samaan Tree Bar in Aranguez, San Juan, but his remains were not found until January 8, 2006. De Four, who was a member of the Special Forces unit, claimed that he was attending a course for members of his unit on that day, and could never have carried out the kidnapping.
His attorneys, Washington-based Jonathan Zucker and Keith Scotland, wrote to the ministry on several occasions, seeking information, such as the arrival and departure records of April 6, 2005, and other dates on which it was alleged that de Four was involved in three other kidnappings. The last letter was dispatched on September 29, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security responded on October 14, under the FIOA. According to the ministry, the records show that the name de Four does not appear on the arrival and departure records of the T&T Regiment for the date, April 6, 2005, at Camp Omega. Further, the T&T Regiment indicated it was unable to provide gate slips for that date. “These were among other documents being stored in a 40-foot container which was flooded by rainfall, resulting in the documents being severely damaged.“
A team of officers, led by the chief clerk, was tasked to examine the documents. It was determined that they were damaged beyond use, and could not be salvaged. “Those documents were subsequently authorised to be destroyed by incineration, and were actually incinerated during the period August to September, 2005,” the ministry added. The response of the ministry also indicated that there was no “marking in and booking out” for de Four for April 6, 2005. In other words, as far as the Regiment is concerned, de Four was never there that day. But a copy of a log book, which was tendered in the local and Washington courts, showed that de Four was present on the course, at least up to midday. Chief of Defence Staff, Brig Edmund Dillon, took offence to the document being published in the T&T Guardian in September, saying the names of other soldiers were mentioned, and this could put their lives at risk.
A request was also made for the arrival and departure records for de Four on December 16, 2004, March 12, 2005, and June 21, 2005, the days when Dexter Jagdeo, Robin Ramadar and Sita Ragoonanan were kidnapped. According to the records, de Four was not on the work roster for December 16, 2004, or March 12, 2005. But his name appeared once on the arrival and departure records of the Regiment for June 21, 2005, as leaving Camp Omega at 3.56 pm. The records show that de Four’s name appeared on the work roster for duty from 8 am, on June 20, to 8 am on June 21, 2005. De Four, who is in the DC Jail in Washington, awaiting sentence, needed the alibi documents to present to the court as a special motion. According to his father, Hollis de Four, if those documents were available, his son had a good chance of getting a retrial. Hollis de Four even wrote to President George Maxwell Richards, seeking assistance.
Ricardo de Four Is & has
Ricardo de Four Is & has been the mastermind behind all kidnappings in T&T!!! HE MUST be executed NOW!What a sham to prove other wise!!! He is a criminal!!God Bless our Nation!De Four must be killed now!!!!!!go for the Lethal Injection!
RICARDO dE fOUR iS PLAYING
RICARDO dE fOUR iS PLAYING GAMES! HE DID THE CRIME & IS AN IMPOSTER!@my the almighty- get Ricardo de Four -- he is a criminal!!!!--get him now as he's dynaminite-whoa!!!!!!!!
I AM BECOMING WEARY WITH THE
I AM BECOMING WEARY WITH THE CANONIZING OF MR. DE FOUR, WHO ALWAYS PLAYED A ROLE IN THESE KIDNAPPING. DOES HIS FATHER, THAT BOLD FACED MAN REALIZE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES WENT THROUGH, SOME OF THEM IRREPARABLE. MR DE FOUR(SENIOR) YOUR SON USED YOUR DAUGHTER'S CAR IN THE KIDNAPPING, ARE YOU SO DAFT TO DEFEND THE INDEFENSIBLE? IN TRINIDAD PEOPLE SIGN BOOKS AND THEN LEAVE WORK, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, IN SCHOOLS ,PUBLIC SERVANTS DO IT, FAR LESS AN ACCOMPLISHED SOLDIER/CRIMINAL.
MR HOLLIS DE FOUR YOUR SON DESERVES WHAT HE GOT, YOUR DEFENSE OF HIM DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACTS.
Get the knowledge NOW. In
Get the knowledge NOW. In the USA we have something called the "Patriotic Act". This applies to ALL LEGAL RESIDENTS of the USA, born or Naturalized. Any Crime committed against any American any part of the world, the FBI will get involved, and the criminals will be brought to the USA to face Justice. The USA is sick and tired of 'Corrupt' and 'Jokey' Governments and 'so-called policing'. Beware, criminals of T&T, ensure that your victim is not an American, before you kidnap or kill. You will never get away from the FBI.
This case revealed a lot
This case revealed a lot about systems in Trinidad, legal; illegal; official and unofficial. It is good that this matter was dealt with by foreign investigators so the chance of there being a small bribe to destroy evidence here and there was minimal. I would not speculate as to whether "pral" De Four was involved but I notice that since the breakthrough in this case the kidnappings in Trinidad and Tobago have virtually ceased. May the soul of Balo rest in peace.
Excellent Kamo, great
Excellent Kamo, great written comments, had tears in my eyes. May Mr.Balo rest in peace at last.
To the guy who bigging up
To the guy who bigging up the FBI on this case, you should talk about the thousands of unsolved murders in the U.S.A. and why the FBI cannot solve them. This case was given to the FBI by folks who were involved and sing in order to save themself. This is the same thing that would happen almost anywere. Remember there are a few guys who are also guilty in this case walking around free because they sang. They made this case, not the FBI. I agree the song birds may not have survived a trial in Trinidad, but the witness protection program in the U.S. did it's job.
To the guy who bigging up
To the guy who bigging up the FBI on this case, you should talk about the thousands of unsolved murders in the U.S.A. and why the FBI cannot solve them. This case was given to the FBI by folks who were involved and sing in order to save themself. This is the same thing that would happen almost anywere. Remember there are a few guys who are also guilty in this case walking around free because they sang. They made this case, not the FBI. I agree the song birds may not have survived a trial in Trinidad, but the witness protection program in the U.S. did it's job.
To the guy who bigging up
To the guy who bigging up the FBI on this case, you should talk about the thousands of unsolved murders in the U.S.A. and why the FBI cannot solve them. This case was given to the FBI by folks who were involved and sing in order to save themself. This is the same thing that would happen almost anywere. Remember there are a few guys who are also guilty in this case walking around free because they sang. They made this case, not the FBI. I agree the song birds may not have survived a trial in Trinidad, but the witness protection program in the U.S. did it's job.
To the guy who bigging up
To the guy who bigging up the FBI on this case, you should talk about the thousands of unsolved murders in the U.S.A. and why the FBI cannot solve them. This case was given to the FBI by folks who were involved and sing in order to save themself. This is the same thing that would happen almost anywere. Remember there are a few guys who are also guilty in this case walking around free because they sang. They made this case, not the FBI. I agree the song birds may not have survived a trial in Trinidad, but the witness protection program in the U.S. did it's job.
Hey Zandolee, you do not
Hey Zandolee, you do not know nothing about the USA and how the FBI operates, so, shut your face and see if you can learn something, okay. The FBI is the US Federal Government. Them is the big boys the world is afraid of. We also have underneath them the (1) State Police Agencies, (2) County Police Agencies, (3) City Police Agencies and Investigative Journalists. The FBI cannot, and does not, get involved unless a request is made by any one of the 'Underneath Agencies' for help. Whenever 'Federal Law' is violated or comes into play, then the FBI is involved. The 'Patriotic Act' is Federal Law, which means USA Law. T&T only have ONE set of Laws. The US have (1) Federal Government (2) State Government (3) County Government (4) City Government and (5) Homeowners Association LAWS. To live in the USA you have to abide by all these Laws. So, now you why the FBI cannot get involved in all the crimes committed in the USA. It must first be a violation of Federal Law or a request for help from one of the subordinate agencies. Okay Zando, see if you can find a cure for your "Foot and Mouth Disease".