by Anna-Lisa Paul
A Venezuelan man who was kidnapped on August 23 and a ransom demanded for his safe return, managed to escape his captors two days later.
Sheldon Darel Blanco Guterrez, 50, of Sparrow Drive, Petit Valley, was hired to transport two men from Penal to Arima around 2 pm on August 23.
Whilst en route, the suspects directed Guterrez to a location at Race Course Road, Carapo, where he was tied up and relieved of a Black Samsung J7 cell phone; TT$5,000 in cash; US$200 in cash; and his silver Nissan Tiida.
Detained at that location for some time, the victim was taken to a secondary location later that night and then moved to a third location the next morning.
On August 24, the kidnappers used the victim’s cellphone and called his daughter to demand a ransom of TT $40,000.
The kidnapping was later reported to the police.
On August 25, Guterrez managed to escape his kidnappers by running through some bushes and found himself along Mausica Road South in the vicinity of Milat Mypat.
He stopped a passing motorist who took him to the Maloney Police Station.
An exercise was later conducted in the Carapo area between 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm on August 25.
Searches were conducted in several locations within the area and information was obtained that investigators said would be vital in assisting them to find the perpetrators.
