Kidnappers free Mary Ali in Manzanilla

Mary Ali -
Mary Ali -

Mary Ali is free. The mother of Sangre Grande businessman Anil Ali was released on Saturday morning, three days after she was kidnapped. No ransom was paid, police reported.

Police said an operation led by DCP Jayson Forde, Supt Aguilal of the Eastern Division, members of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT), the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) and the Cyber Crime Unit placed pressure on underworld figures in the area prompting Ali's release.

She was released in Manzanilla at around 6 am, police said.

No one has been arrested as yet.

Ali, 67, a retired principal, was snatched from the grocery’s car park on George Street, not far from her home, on Wednesday. She was bundled into a grey Mitsubishi Lancer which drove off in the direction of Coalmine, according to police. Her son is the owner of Co$$ Cutters chain of supermarkets.

Anil made an appeal for his mother, who he said is not in the best of health, to be released.

“I am appealing to those who are holding my mother. Please return her to us safely and unharmed. Please return my mother to us.”

In a statement, police said Ali appeared to be dehydrated and was taken to Sangre Grande Hospital for treatment. She, who lives at Juteram Road, Sangre Grande, was found on a road at Jamesmart Village, Manzanilla by acting Cpl Castillo and PC Jack of the AKU, and WPC John and PC Diaz of the Sangre Grande CID. The case is currently being investigated by Sgt Harper.

Toco/Sangre Grande MP Roger Munroe told Sunday Newsday he was pleased Ali was found safe. "I have known Mrs Ali as a businesswoman in the community for many years. She has given much service to the people and I’m glad she was found,” Munroe said. He also thanked the police for their service.

Eastern Business & Merchants Association president Ricardo Mohammed also said he was relieved Ali was released.

"We are happy that Mrs Ali was returned to her family," he told Sunday Newsday.

Mohammed linked the current economic slump to recent crimes.

"We have to understand what is happening in the economies of Trinidad and Tobago, that would drive persons to commit such criminal acts. When we have depression in the economies we will always have to look at the potential for crimes to escalate. When it reaches to a point where there is an act of desperation to take loved ones from their homes, we have to look at that very seriously," he said.

Relatives of Mary Ali at Co$$ Cutters supermarket Sangre Grande where she was kidnapped in the carpark on Wednesday. Ali was released in Manzanilla on Saturday. - ROGER JACOB

As Government gets set to present the budget on October 5, Ali said he hoped for a plan for job growth.

"The Government has to put more emphasis into moving the country forward into creating sustainable jobs and gear the economy towards earning a revenue, so citizens would not want to commit crimes in order to survive. A think-tank has to be put in place so that opportunities can be created for citizens to be able to provide themselves with their basic needs.”

Mohammad said Sangre Grande is regarded as one of the safer districts in TT. However, within in recent times, there has been a spike in petty crimes and robberies.

On the supermarket’s Facebook page on Thursday, relatives asked members of the public to call 273-0123 if they had any information.

“All calls will be treated with the strictest of confidence. If you know anything or have seen anything please call or WhatsApp at this number.” Police said they are “following some leads”.

Members of the Special Operations Response Team and the Cyber Crime Unit were also involved in the investigation.

– with reporting by Shane Superville and Angelo Marcelle

This story has been updated with additional details. Below is the original publication.

Mary Ali is free. The mother of Sangre Grande businessman Anil Ali was released on Saturday morning, three days after she was kidnapped. No ransom was paid, police reported.

Police said an operation led by DCP Jayson Forde, Supt Aguilal of the Eastern Division, members of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT), the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) and the Cyber Crime Unit placed pressure on underworld figures in the area prompting Ali's release.

She was released in Manzanilla at around 6 am , police said.

No one has been arrested as yet.

Ali, 67, a retired principal, was snatched from the grocery’s car park on George Street, not far from her home, on Wednesday. She was bundled into a grey Mitsubishi Lancer which drove off in the direction of Coalmine, according to police. Her son is the owner of Co$$ Cutters chain of supermarkets.

Anil made an appeal for his mother, who he said is not in the best of health, to be released.

“I am appealing to those who are holding my mother. Please return her to us safely and unharmed. Please return my mother to us.”

On the supermarket’s Facebook page on Thursday, relatives asked members of the public to call 273-0123 if they had any information.

“All calls will be treated with the strictest of confidence. If you know anything or have seen anything please call or WhatsApp at this number.” On Friday, police said they were “following some leads” but had no update on the kidnapping.

Members of the Special Operations Response Team, the Eastern Division Task Force, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Cyber Crime Unit are involved in the investigation.

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