Griffith blast cops’ incompetence in Sankar kidnapping

Former National Security Minister and top cop hopeful, Gary Griffith has accused the police service of incompetence and a lack of direction in their handling of the kidnapping of 24-year-old Krystiana Sankar last week.

Expressing disappointment with the way in which the Anti Kidnapping Unit (AKU) handled the situation, Griffith pointed to the conflicting reports on the payment of a ransom. He said the police should not have revealed such sensitive information to the public at such an early stage in its investigations, especially since the perpetrators are yet to be apprehended.

Griffith also criticised the police for their insistence that a ranson was paid, despite repeated denial from family members.

He said the police’s actions were ‘foolhardy’. “As for the first issue of the TTPS making a release to let the public be aware that a ransom was paid, especially when the kidnappers are still at large, it served absolutely no purpose by revealing this to the public.

“The sole comment made by anyone was that “neither Minister Young nor the family paid any ransom demand.” Those words were clear and straightforward, so if a senior police officer could misinterpret this, then how can we expect him to solve the actual case?”

He said the issuing of media statements suggesting a ransom was paid was misleading and those doing so were ignorant to basic concepts of ciminology. Griffith said during his tenure as Minister of National Security he revived the Direct Action Task Force, an elite unit established to treat with kinappings and other threats, which was integral in reducing kidnappings. This unit was eventually disbanded, he said, due to “ego and ignorance” from senior police officials.

Sankar, said to be the ex-step-daughter of Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young, was abducted outside the home of a friend in Petit Valley on Thursday. She was released in the Four Roads area early Friday morning.

Newsday understands that several suspects have been identified by police but an arrest is yet to be made.