Guyana police handled hoax kidnapping well says Deputy Commissioner

Thursday, December 18, 2003

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Deputy Commissioner, Law Enforcement, Superintendent Leon Trim, in an exclusive interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday, stated that he disagrees with persons who have accused the Police Force of not acting promptly enough in last week's hoax kidnapping case.

"That is incorrect", he contended. 

The Crime Chief explained that as soon as the kidnapping report was received, an anti-crime unit team, comprising persons trained in anti-kidnapping measures overseas, was organised and dispatched to the home of the alleged victim. 

He further said that the alleged victim's relatives were interviewed and the Police listened to the phone-calls made by the perpetrators to relatives. Other procedures were followed and this led to the arrest of two persons, who had gone to a trash can to collect the 'ransom money'.

This action further led Police to the house where the victim was hiding and where other occupants of the house were subsequently arrested.

On realising that the kidnapping had been staged, the alleged victim and occupants of the home were charged. 

Trim noted that the Police has learnt a lot from this incident and will act swiftly, use different procedures and investigate such reports thoroughly in the future 'to ascertain whether a kidnapping is true or staged'.

He however cautioned that persons who intend to carry out similar escapades by staging kidnappings will be dealt with seriously.

"We want to send a strong message out there to any youth or person who is so inclined to get involved in such plots…that we're going to take firm action against them", the Crime Chief warned. 

Asked about reports in the media which state that the kidnapping Bill carried in Parliament does not include strict methods to deal with persons involved in such specific crimes as 'staging a kidnapping', the Crime Chief contended that there are other laws that can be applied.

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