Brazilian diamond dealer Sergio Mattos was early yesterday morning abducted in front of his girlfriend’s home in Georgetown, but his captors later released him without a ransom payment after learning that police had been notified.
Mattos, owner of Pure Diamonds, was left bound by captors along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The businessman, who has been a diamond and gold miner for several years, suffered minor injuries after being beaten by his captors.
Police up to press time last evening were still looking for the four perpetrators, including the gunman who attacked the 35-year-old Duncan Street, Bel Air Park resident around 12:15am yesterday.
Mattos, according to police, was driving along Stone Avenue, Campbellville, Georgetown when a motor car drove up and he was confronted by four men, one of whom pointed a gun at him.
The men, who forced Mattos into their vehicle, later demanded that he provide a ransom and on their instructions he made a call for the money to be brought to them.
However, in the interim the police were notified and launched an investigation into the matter. As a result, perpetrators later told Mattos that someone had reported the matter to the police and they proceeded to assault him. Afterward, they took him to the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where he was released with his hands and feet bound.
“Mattos managed to hop from among the bushes until he got within sight of the roadway at Hauraruni, where he was observed by passengers in a minibus,” police said. The businessman was subsequently taken to the Police Highway Patrol Outpost and then brought to Georgetown, where he was treated at a private hospital.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, when contacted, informed this newspaper that the man was snatched as he exited his car in front of his girlfriend’s residence. He said that Mattos was later forced into a waiting car and taken to the Soesdyke/Highway. Persaud told this newspaper that a statement was being taken from Mattos.
Sources told this newspaper that he was found just after 6 am.
When Stabroek News visited Pure Diamonds, located at Duncan Street, Bel Air Park, it was business as usual yesterday. A worker refused to speak about the incident and later said that Mattos was unavailable.
In August 2007, four gunmen stormed the establishment, which was then located at East Street, and after shooting a security guard they escaped with $10 million. Several persons were subsequently charged in connection with that incident.
