By Ken Chee Hing, Newsday/TT

WITH 27 reported kidnappings taking place this year, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, in his maiden Budget presentation days after winning the October General Elections, promised to table in Parliament legislation to bring about tougher laws for this offence.

However, PM Manning’s promises can never comfort relatives of 27 kidnap victims, out of which, at least three ended up being murdered.

This was a year when two former US FBI agents were brought in to train members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) — a team of Port-of-Spain CID officers, whose sole purpose is to investigate kidnappings.
International Consultant Thomas Clayton, an expert in kidnappings and ransom negotiations, was also invited by National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee, to visit this country and give advice on techniques to deal with the kidnapping situations.

Internal security at several commercial banks in the country, was beefed up in the wake of several kidnappings, and after it was disclosed by police, that persons working in the banks, were suspected of tipping off kidnappers of customers who had large bank accounts.

Despite all of these measures, the kidnappers still continued their reign of terror, snatching persons near their homes, inside bars and outside their businessplaces.

No one was safe from the kidnappers. In fact, frightened Chaguanas businessmen appealed to Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy to initiate a process to speed up the issuing of firearms licences.
Even two foreigners — one a Guyanese and the other a national of Santo Domingo — were kidnapped in this country in separate incidents. Fortunately, both were later recovered.

This was a year when major ransom demands were the order of the day. For example, the daughter of a Chaguanas businessman was released by her kidnappers after $5M was paid.

Then there was the well publicised kidnapping of Anthony Sabga III — grandson of Anthony N Sabga and son of Norman Sabga, who is the head of the ANSA McAl business empire.
Sabga III was released days after being snatched, when $5M in ransom money was paid.

The latest kidnapping this year occurred last Monday when a Curepe businessman was snatched outside his businessplace and a ransom demand of $800,000 made.

Sadly, this particular kidnapping ended in murder, when the body of Dennis Jodhan, was found hands tied behind his back and blindfolded yesterday morning.

Some of the more notable kidnappings this year were —

PREMNATH GEELAL: An El Socorro businessman who was snatched around 9 pm on Monday March 25, while securing his businessplace Geelal’s Dry Goods store in San Juan.

Three men drove up to Geelal who was shot in both legs and bundled him into the car which sped off.
His captors later demanded $1M for his release.
The following day, Geelal managed to flee from a house in Claxton Bay.

KENNETH MEDFORD: The millionaire Chaguanas businessman who operates a chain of NP services stations, Medford, 54, was kidnapped and a ransom demand of $1M made. Medford, a former President of the Greater Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce, was released on Friday May 10 — three days after he was snatched. $325,000 was paid for Medford’s release.

ALBERTO SERRANO: After being held hostage for over a month, Serrano, 43, was rescued by AKS officers on Monday June 10 at a house in Dorata Street, Laventille. Serrano, who has Venezuelan and Santo Domingo Passports was kidnapped on May 11. His wife was contacted and a ransom demand of TT$60,000 was made. Four men were arrested.

MOHESS RAMPERSAD and DARLIN RAMPERSAD: The couple, both in their early sixties, were snatched outside their Palmiste, San Fernando home on Monday August 5. Days later, the bodies of the couple were found in a field with both being shot once in the head.

ANTHONY N SABGA III: On July 14, the young Sabga was kidnapped while leaving the Base Night Club in Chaguaramas.
He was released 42 hours later, after the $5M ransom was paid. Sabga III was dumped out of a car at McKai Lands, Belmont.

JACKLIN ACKING: The 28-year-old daughter of a prominent Central businessman, was kidnapped around 9 am on Thursday August 29, while, making her way to her father’s businessplace in Longdenville.
She is the first of two women kidnapped. A $5M ransom was demanded and she was subsequently released on Saturday August 31, after the money was paid.

ISHWAR MAHARAJ: The manager of Hearty Foods Ltd, who is the son of well-known Arima businessman Balliram Maharaj, was kidnapped on Saturday August 24, while liming at Destini Sports Bar in Malabar Road, Arima.
Maharaj was kidnapped days after two FBI agents arrived in the country to train AKS officers. The 34-year-old man of Calvary Hill, Arima was rescued in Sealots by police who stormed an abandoned house where he was kept hostage.

KALLIPERSAD RAVI MAHARAJ: Son of a prominent Central auto parts operator, was kidnapped on Thursday September 5, outside Ramo’s Auto Garage in Longdenville, which is owned by his father. He was rescued by police on Tuesday September 10.

KHALIL KHAN: Six hours after Kallipersad Ravi Maharaj was kidnapped, Khalil Khan, 24, a jeweller of Mt Lambert, was also abducted in Tunapuna. He was subsequently freed.

RONALD JOHN: Brother of prominent UNC member and former MP for St Joseph, Carlos John, was abducted from his Petra Street, Woodbrook apartment on Wednesday October, 2. John, 50, was later found in a house in Cascade two days later.

KALLAWATIE GODEK: The proprietress of Off Rodeo Clothing Store in Grand Bazaar, was kidnapped outside her Savanna Courts, Orchard Gardens on Tuesday October 22 and a $3M ransom made for her safe release. She was subsequently released after $204,000 in a bag was dropped off in Claxton Bay.

WINSTON SEEPERSAD: The 65-year-old man was kidnapped on Tuesday October, 29, at the Villa Maria Inn in Moka, Maraval, where he was the manager. A ransom demand of $300,000 was made. He was subsequently released.

CLINT ARJOON: Kidnapped on the eve of Divali. He is the proprietor of Trinidad Tent Rentals in Mon Desir Village, was kidnapped on Saturday November 2. He was later rescued by police in an abandoned house in Tunapuna on Monday November 4.

RISHI PERMANAND: Permanand, nephew of retired Court of Appeal Judge Jean Permanand (who is being touted by many as the next President of this country), was kidnapped on Tuesday December 17, while driving his car in San Raphael. A demand of $500,000 was made for Permanand’s release. Two days later, Permanand was released and taken by police back to his Broome Street, Diego Martin home.

DENNIS JODHAN: The last person to be kidnapped so far this year, was one of four persons murdered yesterday.
Jodhan, battered body was found inside an agricultural estate off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway yesterday — six days after he was kidnapped near his Curepe home.

With just two days remaining in this year, Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee, need to put at ease, the minds of frightened citizens, who wake up each morning hearing the news of either a murder or kidnapping.