2 charged for kidnapping UWI employee

TWO men will appear in court on Monday charged with the kidnapping of UWI employee Maria Dass-Supersad.

Dass-Supersad was kidnapped on November 28 and a ransom of $1 million was demanded for her release. Ricardo Felix, 21, a labourer of Saddle Road, Maraval, and Keon Phillips, 35, a plumber of Clarence Trace, Valencia, are jointly charged with kidnapping for ransom and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Phillips faces an additional charge of robbery with violence from an unrelated incident that took place three days prior to Dass-Seepersad's kidnapping. The men were charged by Sgt Thomas of the St Joseph Police Station. Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard gave the instructions to charge the men yesterday.

Dass-Supersad was snatched by two men dressed in clothing that appeared to be the uniforms of a policeman and soldier.

She was bundled into a car as she made her way to her car near the northern entrance of the St Augustine campus. The kidnapping took place three weeks after UWI students clashed with police during a protest on campus over lax security at the university.

Dass-Seepersad was rescued “unharmed” at a location in Caura hours after she was kidnapped. She was taken to the Eric Williams Sciences Complex, Mt Hope for a medical check-up after the rescue. Police said they arrested two men, one wearing a police jacket and the other camouflage gear. Police Commissioner Gary Griffith was “actively involved and co-ordinated the exercise.”

Days after she was rescued, the family issued a statement thanking the police and Griffith and highlighted the role social media played in her rescue.

“Many of you also took to social media to share your prayers and concerns. That social media push helped in providing tips for Maria's rescue. Unfortunately, some people used social media to speculate unpleasantly and without justification about alleged backgrounds to this traumatising experience," the release said.