The kidnapping of Maria Dass-Supersad, while she was on The University of the West Indies’ St Augustine campus compound, has been described as boldface and daring.
In fact, the act, in which three men snatched the 26-year-old mother of one from her car, was described by eyewitnesses as like a scene from the movie Taken.
One eyewitness told the T&T Guardian that the men were seen lingering in and around the compound near the university’s bookstore, which is on the northern side of the campus, moments before the incident.
“I guess no one noticed any unusual movement but it went down very professionally. I was not too far off when I noticed Maria walking towards her parked car…as she got in and pulled off, the men—one dressed in a police uniform and the other in a soldier’s uniform—got in the silver Tiida and the driver, who had on black, drove up to her vehicle and forced her to stop.
“In a flash, the men just grabbed her from her vehicle and bodily throw her in their vehicle. As the driver was speeding off one of the men put a gun through the window and opened shots on several students and security guard. Lucky thing no one was hurt but everybody very shaken up.”
The eyewitness added, “There was plenty people around. People scampering, screaming, shouting but it was all too fast…like a blink of an eye…somebody told me that they saw the Tiida there for a while, first in a park and then in the driveway of the car park, sometimes driving around slowly, but, I didn’t notice that.”
Dass-Supersad was assigned to the university’s Institute of International Advancement and was said to be on her way to pick up her six-year-old daughter.
A police release issued shortly after the incident confirmed that the police, up to press time, were searching for Dass-Supersad, of Lange Park, Chaguanas.
The incident occurred at about 3.38 pm. The license plates of the getaway car, PDK 9561, were later discovered to be false, the police confirmed.
Another eyewitness, who was apparently one car behind Dass-Supersad when the kidnappers struck, posted on Facebook instantly, “Omg y’all! I just witnessed a kidnapping in Uwi one car in front of me and bullets flying…I’m so effin shaken up! Y’all be careful out there! The lady’s car just parked there empty now wdf sad #trinidadisnotarealplace y’all.”
A traffic and security advisory was subsequently sent out by the university’s Marketing and Communications department at 3.45 pm advising students that the North Gate was closed. It gave no reason for the closure but added that students could gain access to the university via the Freedom Hall Gate, Heartease Gate and the South Gate.
Investigating officers confirmed they retrieved footage caught on surveillance cameras from in and around the university campus, as well as from nearby businesses (north, west, east and south of the perimeter of the campus).
Up to press time no ransom call had been made.
Investigations are continuing.
