Police: Doubles vendor's kidnapping case not closed

DESPITE Anisha Hosein’s safe return and the deaths of four men believed to have been involved in her kidnapping, police say the investigation into her abduction is far from over.

North Eastern Division superintendent Richard Smith said the Anti-Kidnapping Unit is leaving no stone unturned in order to find any and all of those involved in Hosein’s kidnapping.

“The investigation is still alive, until, either the AKU calls it quits or they are directed by the DPP,” Smith said. “There are several elements that the AKU is fine-tuning, as well as there could be other people involved in the kidnapping. The AKU is looking in that direction to find anyone else involved, arrest them and bring them before the court, once they have the evidence.”

Smith added that Hosein had got assistance and counselling from the Victim Support Unit in the wake of the kidnapping.

“Shortly after she was released the Victim Support Unit sprang into action. They have been offering that level of support.

"It will take some counselling, because it was an ordeal that she went through. She would be traumatised, even when memories of the kidnapping come up.”

Just before 6 am on May 18, 27-year-old Hosein, doubles vendor and daughter of Ahamad Hosein, owner of Sauce Doubles, was snatched by gunmen in El Dorado. She was setting up one of the popular doubles franchise’s outlets when she was kidnapped.

CCTV footage from a building across the street from the spot depicted a silver Nissan Almera as it pulled up to the outlet and three armed men got out.

The men grabbed Hosein, dragged her to the car and threw her inside.

Her husband, Richie Singh, tried to stop the men but they shot at him, grazing him with a bullet to his face. He was treated for his wounds and later discharged.

The car was later found abandoned in Maracas, St Joseph.

On May 22, four days after she was taken, she was released. Reports said Hosein was found on the road near the Caroni Cremation site at about 10.30 pm.

AKU investigations led police to a forested area at the end of St Michael’s Road in St Augustine on May 23, where they encountered four men. Police said there was a shoot-out  and the four men were killed.