Trini charged for faking kidnapping

CHARGED: Trinidadian Sawak Maraj at the Georgetown Magistrates Court in Guyana yesterday where he was charged with faking his own kidnapping.
CHARGED: Trinidadian Sawak Maraj at the Georgetown Magistrates Court in Guyana yesterday where he was charged with faking his own kidnapping.

UPDATED:

Trinidadian Sawak Maraj, 33, who was charged for faking his own kidnapping in Guyana and demanding US$700,000 in ransom from his family, was remanded to prison yesterday after denying the charges.

Maraj of Fairways, Maraval who says he is a chemical engineer, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charges of giving police wrong information and conspiracy to commit a felony. The first charge is that Maraj, in Georgetown on October 27, knowingly gave false information to police, alleging he had been kidnapped and his abductors were demanding a ransom.

On the same day, at Madewini Resort on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, it is alleged that he conspired with other people to assist him in negotiating the ransom. Maraj claimed he was innocent and his attorney begged for bail to be granted, saying he was kidnapped and is being made a victim twice.

The attorney said if Maraj is granted bail, he would stay at the Marriott Hotel to await trial. The court prosecutor objected to bail saying Maraj being a foreigner, is a flight risk. The prosecutor said two men who assisted Maraj in staging the kidnap are on the run and have been blacklisted at airports in Guyana and TT.

The magistrate remanded Maraj into custody until November 16. Before leaving Trinidad, Maraj told his parents and Guyanese detectives that he was going to Guyana for a job interview. Two other Trinis known to Maraj arrived in Guyana on Wednesday and checked in at the Madewini Resort. They were reportedly seen on airport surveillance video, greeting Maraj when he arrived.

A composite photo of Trinidadian national Sawak Maharaj who allegedly faked his own kidnapping while in Guyana.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Trini national Sawak Maraj, 33, who allegedly faked his own kidnapping in Guyana and demanded US$700,000 in ransom from his family, was remanded to prison after denying the charges.

Maraj, who claims to be a chemical engineer, appeared today before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and denied the charges of giving the police wrong information, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

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"Trini charged for faking kidnapping"

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