Brother of kidnap victim Ria Sookdeo dies

RICHARD Rajkumar, the brother of kidnap victim Ria Sookdeo, died early on Sunday morning.

Rajkumar, a 45-year-old mechanic, was shot several times at his garage in Phillipine on Friday.

On Sunday, police confirmed that Rajkumar died of his injuries at the intensive care unit of the San Fernando General Hospital around 5.12 am. His body was taken to the hospital's mortuary, pending a post-mortem

According to police reports, around 4:15 pm on May 12, Rajkumar was standing in front of his garage at 16 Sir Lamont Ave, Phillipine, San Fernando, speaking to a customer, when a vehicle stopped in front of the garage

A man of African descent, wearing a dark coloured T-shirt, dark jeans and a black face mask, got out and firedseveral shots at Rajkumar.

The gunman got back into the vehicle, which drove off.

Rajkumar was taken to hospital by his uncle, Sooklal Rajkumar.

When the media went to Rajkumar's family home in Phillipine, on Sunday, relatives were too distraught to speak and appealed for privacy.

Several older relatives who were gathered in the garage were crying.

Sookdeo was kidnapped on September 22, 2016, after dropping off her children at a primary school in Diamond Village.

She has not been found to date.