A man has been denied bail after appearing in court charged with kidnapping central businessman Shashi Anand Rampersad.
Kareem Rodriguez was remanded into custody after he appeared before High Court Master Ambrose Persad-Singh charged with kidnapping for ransom on Monday.
Rampersad, the owner of Jits Stock Pile, was abducted from Pierre Street, Lendore Village, Enterprise, around 1.45 pm on November 21.
The 36-year-old of Lange Park, Chaguanas, was delivering a load of sand for a customer when he was forced into a silver Nissan Versa at gunpoint by two masked men.
His Mitsubishi Canter truck was found idling in the open yard of a resident with the keys in the ignition and his cellphone inside.
Rodriguez was accused of unlawfully seizing and taking away Rampersad without his consent and of holding him and preventing his release.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
In a statement shortly after Rampersad’s abduction, Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit said that the kidnapping left Rampersad’s community gripped with fear and uncertainty.
“This heinous crime has sent shockwaves throughout the business community and beyond,” Mohit said.
She also questioned what measures were being put in place to address a perceived increase in kidnappings.
“What measures are being implemented to combat the scourge of kidnappings that terrorise communities? What will the authorities do to prevent other families from enduring this nightmare?” she asked.
Guardian Media understands that the police recovered a decomposing body buried in Dibe, Long Circular, St James, yesterday morning.
Police sources said homicide detectives suspect that the body may be Rampersad’s, but they would await DNA testing to make an official determination.
The sufficiency hearing in Rodriguez’s case is scheduled to commence in October.
Rodriguez was represented by Steven Mawer.
