A CUNUPIA businessman has been kidnapped by men dressed in what appeared to be police uniforms, marking this the second such incident in under a month.
Suvesh “Cooksie” Ramnarine, aged 33, was taken from a bar in Warrenville, Cunupia, on Saturday evening. According to police reports, around 7.10 pm, five armed individuals dressed in tactical police uniforms entered the establishment.
Two of them approached Ramnarine, escorting him outside to a black Hyundai Tucson, while the others commandeered his black Toyota Prado. Both vehicles were then driven in different directions.
Shortly thereafter, Ramnarine’s mother received a call demanding ransom for his release. A $3million ransom has been demanded.
This incident is similar to a recent case on September 25, when Sachel Kungebeharry, a used car dealer from Cunupia, was abducted in Chaguanas by assailants dressed as police. Despite a ransom being paid, Kungebeharry’s body was found over a week later.
In connection with Kungebeharry’s case, Central Division police officers, acting Cpl Ashraf Mohammed and PC Jason Michael, have been charged with murder, kidnapping for ransom, and misbehavior in public office.
On July 19 kidnapping of Felicity consultant Komal Maharaj was taken to Venezuela and later released on August 2.
The pattern of these crimes has raised concerns in the public the manner of these abductions.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Curt Simon, head of the Criminal Division, suggested during a press briefing that it may be necessary to redesign police uniforms to prevent criminals from easily replicating them.
