A Lance Corporal with the T&T Defence Force (TTDF) was among four people charged with kidnapping.
The 38-year-old Curepe man was held on July 24, along with three other suspects including a 37-year-old woman of Belmont; and two men aged 23 and 20 of Belmont and Morvant respectively.
They were held after the 32-year-old victim of St Augustine escaped from a house at Milk Road, Sangre Grande and reported being robbed, beaten, and imprisoned while a $20,000 ransom was demanded from his mother, for his safe return.
The victim told investigators that he went to Milk Office Road, Turure around 10 am on July 24, to assist the woman whom he knew - with moving some old iron that she wanted to sell.
He claimed that upon arrival, he was met by the two male suspects whom he also knew - following which he was beaten and robbed of his wallet, cellphone, and the keys to his truck.
His hands and legs were tied before he was locked in a room.
The men then called the victim’s mother and demanded a ransom before leaving.
The victim managed to untie himself and escaped from the locked house around 1 am on July 25, Monday.
The man made his way to a nearby house where he contacted the police - and PCs Singh and Mc Neil of the Emergency Response Patrol Unit responded.
They took the victim to Sangre Grande Hospital for medical attention.
Police began a search for the suspects with CID officers returning to Milk Office Road, where the three suspects were spotted and subsequently detained.
The soldier was held around 5:10 am on Monday when he arrived at the Sangre Grande Police Station and was positively identified by the victim as being involved in his illegal detention.
WPC Moses is continuing enquiries.
