SHELDON FOUND DEAD

FIVE weeks after being kidnapped at gunpoint by men dressed in police clothing, and a two-million dollar ransom later being demanded, Sheldon Sukhdeo was found dead yesterday with his body being dumped in bushes two miles into a forested area in Las Lomas No. 2.

The discovery brought an end to weeks of searching by both the police and Sukhdeo's relatives which saw officers search houses and shacks in Beetham Gardens, parts of Central Trinidad and even in Tobago. Police sources last night confirmed that the ransom was never paid.

Sources said investigators received a tip-off and at 1 pm, they went to Las Lomas No. 2 and immediately picked up a foul stench. Officers came across Sukhdeo's body face down on the forest floor with his entire head completely wrapped and sealed with duct tape. Tie-straps were used to secure his hands and feet.

Police said that while no official identification was made at the scene, since investigators did not want to remove the duct tape, a tattoo of the name "Sheldon" on the victim's right forearm, matched that of one Sukhdeo had also on his right forearm.

Sukhdeo who had several tattoos on his body, was well-known for wearing thick gold chains around his neck, rings on his fingers and thick gold beras (a wrist band).

AUTOPSY TODAY

After the body was viewed by the district medical officer it was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where relatives are expected to visit today to make a formal identification so an autopsy could be done. Because of the advanced state of decomposition officers could not visually ascertain a cause of death.

At about 5 am on Sunday December 16, Sukhdeo, 31, was driving a silver-grey BMW sedan north along the Solomon Hochoy Highway with three Venezuelans - two women and a man - as passengers.

On reaching Claxton Bay, a Kia SUV with flashing blue lights drove alongside the BMW with the driver motioning Sukhdeo to pull to the shoulder of the highway. He complied. Three men, dressed in what appeared to be police uniforms, alighted from the SUV and with guns drawn, kidnapped the father of two.

The businessman was herded into the SUV which sped off. The Venezuelans were left unharmed and one of them later drove the BMW to Caroni Savannah Road in Chaguanas where they alerted Sukhdeo’s relatives and a report was made to the Chaguanas police.

On December 9, Sheldon's mother Angela got a call shortly after midnight. When her son Ceron answered, he heard voices on the other end telling Sheldon to speak. Sheldon was asked some personal questions to prove it was him and the call lasted for about four minutes. Several calls ensued with repeated demands for the ransom to be paid. Then about a week ago, the calls ended.

On the night of Monday March 26, 2018, Sheldon's brother, millionaire auto parts dealer Sheron Sukhdeo was shot dead in a drive-by as he was liming outside the home of relatives on Caroni Savannah Road. Two months later, Sheron's brother in law Philip Bassant was gunned down near to where Sheron was shot.

Police sources told Newsday the area where Sukhdeo's body was found appeared to be undisturbed which led them to believe that he may have been killed elsewhere and the body dumped where it was eventually found. Up to press time, no arrest was made and detectives from the Homicide Investigations Bureau as well as the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) were investigating.

2 OTHER KIDNAPPINGS

Sukhdeo was the third kidnapping to take place under the watch of Police Commissioner Gary Griffith since he assumed office last August. However, unlike Sukhdeo, those two other kidnap victims - both women - were rescued by police and no ransom paid.

On September 6, Palmiste businesswoman Natalie Pollonais was kidnapped and a ransom demanded for her release. Four days later, she was rescued by police officers while one of her alleged captors was transporting her in a vehicle.

Four people including police constables Shaundelle Euin, 24, and Ian Dwarika, 44, welder Gregory James, 50, and building contractor Shain Steven, 37, have been charged for Pollonais' kidnapping.

Then on Wednesday November 28, 26-year-old University of the West Indies manager Maria Dass-Supersad was kidnapped as she was walking towards her car at near the northern gate of the university. Hours later, she was rescued by police who intercepted a car along Caura Royal Road and found her sedated in the backseat. Two male suspects, one dressed in police garb and the other in military garb, were arrested.

Ricardo Felix, 21, a labourer of Saddle Road, Maraval and Keon Phillips, 35, a plumber of Clarence Trace, Valencia were subsequently charged with Dass-Supersad's kidnapping.