Son fined $800 for faking kidnapping

Defence lawyer Fitzgerald Hinds says an attempt by his client Ricardo Daniel to extort money from his father by pretending to be kidnapped “is a sordid, social and spiritual problem dressed up in legal clothing.” Hinds made the comment as Daniel reappeared before Magistrate Cheron Raphael in the Port-of-Spain court yesterday to be sentenced for trying to extort money from his father by pretending to be kidnapped. Daniel, 32 of Aroa Avenue, Trincity, pleaded guilty to the charge that on July 28, at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, he filed a false police report claiming he had been kidnapped. He was fined $800. Daniel’s co-accused, Dennis Stapleton, 32, of Laventille, is charged with wasting police time on July 24.

The charge against him is that he wasted police time by causing Daniel’s father, James, to file a false report with the AKU that his son had been kidnapped on July 24. Stapleton, who  pleaded not guilty, is expected to return to court on October 4 for a separate hearing. Attorney Richard Clarke-Willis is defending him. Daniel was accompanied to court yesterday by his parents. He sought to communicate through Hinds that he had brought shame and embarrassment to his family. Hinds urged the court to act in a lenient manner and not consider Daniel’s 1999 conviction for possession of a gun and possession. Hinds said Daniel’s father had already forgiven him and had vowed to continue his son’s employment within the family business. He owns Professional’s Auto-Body Garage, Pashley Street, Laventille.