Earn up to $10,000 for helping find Komal Maharaj

CRIME Stoppers director Darrin Carmichael has joined those urging the public for information that will help find missing consultant Komal Maharaj, who is feared to have been kidnapped.

Maharaj, 40, left his Felicity home around 11.30 am on July 19 to visit the Scotiabank ATM at the mall. Maharaj withdrew money around 12.30 pm and told his wife he was going to meet someone before returning. He was expected home around 2 pm.

Calls and messages to his phone went unanswered after that. Relatives later discovered his blue Hyundai Ioniq parked at the mall, untampered with. It is not clear whether he was taken against his will, but police said given the unusual circumstances, his disappearance was being treated "with the urgency and resources of a kidnapping."

In a telephone interview with Newsday, Carmichael said many pieces of information may seem insignificant, but could be critical to solving the case.

"Somebody might have been around in the presence and heard some screeching tyres, they may have a sense of the vehicle, they may have seen it before; some people in some areas may be hearing or seeing strange activity taking place at a house that could be abandoned, at a residence – something that is unusual, unfamiliar.

"We want people to keep their senses up and see any little thing that may be looking abnormal, out of the ordinary, and that might be the trigger and might lead to that information that we seek."

He reminded the population that the Crime Stoppers service is anonymous, with its phone lines, website and mobile application set up to keep people's identities hidden, even from the organisation.

Additionally, he said people can get up to a $10,000 if the information they provide is useful.

"It really depends on the value of the information in solving the crime. That could range all the way up to $10,000, and we encourage persons to do so, and to collect the reward is safe." To collect a reward, he said people would just need to visit a Scotiabank convenient to them with a tip number provided to them.

"It's easy. No questions are asked, no names are required, no signatures are required to collect it and move on."

As he urged people to come forward with information on this matter and others, Carmichael commended the Maloney mother who turned in her teenage son to police for burglary on Wednesday evening after she noticed he had clothes she had not bought for him.

"When you understand what it takes for somebody to make that bold decision – that is really where we want people to be in this country right now. We want persons to look at the crime that is occurring, see how close it's coming to their doorstep and do something significant."

He added, "The point is, she has sent a clear signal as a mother, she intends to hold her children accountable...If she sees something wrong she says something about and let the chips fall where they may."

Reports can be made by calling 800-TIPS (8477), its website at crimestopperstt.com or through its mobile app P3 TIPS.
In addition to Crime Stoppers, anyone with information can contact the police's Anti-Kidnapping Unit at 623-6793, their nearest police station or either of the Hunters Search and Rescue teams at 477-2031 or 799-1453.