A 20-year-old mechanic from Maracas, St Joseph, has been released on $150,000 bail after appearing in court in relation to the kidnapping of businesswoman Anisha Hosein-Singh.
Kevin “Pa” Augustus was granted bail as he made his first court appearance before High Court Master Sarah De Silva, yesterday afternoon, after being charged with kidnapping for ransom, last week.
During the hearing, De Silva set deadlines for prosecutors and Augustus’ defence attorneys to file and serve documents related to the case and scheduled a sufficiency hearing for March 17, next year.
In his bail application, Augustus’ lawyer Alexia Romero requested reasonable bail for her client as she pointed out that the case against him was weak based on the evidence disclosed by the police thus far.
Hosein-Singh, 27, was abducted by two masked gunmen as she and her husband were setting up their doubles stall, located along the Eastern Main Road in El Dorado, shortly before 6 am on May 18.
Her husband rushed to her assistance but was shot in his face as the men bundled his wife into a Nissan B15.
The vehicle was found abandoned in Maracas, St Joseph.
Four days after the abduction, Hosein-Singh was released near the Caroni Cremation Site. She was found by a driver, who took her to the St Joseph Police Station.
Hours after Hosein-Singh’s release, four alleged suspects in the kidnapping were killed by police officers in a shoot-out in a forested area off St John’s Road in St Augustine. Police allegedly recovered a rifle and a pistol on the scene.
Another man was arrested alongside Augustus.
Augustus was charged by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit after they received advice from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, last week.
Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act makes it an offence to abduct or detain a person against their will for a ransom, reward or similar consideration.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment.
Augustus was also represented by Kurren Hall. — Derek Achong
