(Trinidad Guardian) Police have confirmed that an undisclosed ransom demand has been made for the safe release of kidnap victim Anisha Hosein-Singh.
Hosein-Singh, 27, along with her husband and other workers were setting up the tents for the Sauce & Sons Doubles outlet along the Eastern Main Road, El Dorado, around 5.50 am on Saturday when a silver B15 car with three masked men pulled up and bundled her into the vehicle.
The car was found abandoned at Lluengo Village, Maracas Valley, St Joseph, several hours after the kidnapping.
Speaking on the Power Breakfast Show yesterday, the head of the Specialised Support Division, ACP Wayne Mystar, said the demand was made but did not disclose the amount. He did not say when the demand was made, either.
“The Anti-kidnapping Unit would have indicated there was a ransom (demand) and some special negotiations are going on so … we are keeping our fingers crossed that those negotiations work out,” he told the show’s hosts.
Mystar added that part of the protocol was proof of life, which, at the time of the show, they did not have.
The kidnapping of Hosein-Singh is the sixth attack against the Sauce Doubles family in the past four years. Mystar said there was a trend that is “difficult to piece together.”
“The TTPS is paying attention to that particular trend and is trying to piece this together because it is not business as normal, but there is a trend,” he added.
Mystar assured that the police were treating the kidnapping with urgency.
He said there was a need to improve the CCTV camera system in the country that can be used to address crime. Mystar also said one of the challenges facing the police was witnesses reneging after giving statements.
He added that the “revolving door” of the criminal justice system, where people come out of prison with a “bigger and better way to continue to commit crime,” is another challenge.
Asked about the use of drones and helicopters, Mystar said the police have an aerial support unit using drones but lamented that in cases of kidnappings and car thefts, helicopters may be needed.
“Helicopters definitely is one of the resources necessary to assist us with what is happening; kidnappings and stolen vehicles.”
He called on the population to partner with police, who he said were “not asleep,” to assist with solving Hosein-Singh’s kidnapping and other offences.