After 14 hours of intense prayers and a massive operation by police and army for the safe return of San Fernando businessman Gregory Laing, he was set free by his captors in the Beetham Gardens last evening.
The T&T Guardian learned that Laing was released following the payment of a ransom and was picked up by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) on the roadside around 5.05 pm. ACP Irwin Hackshaw said Laing was then taken to the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex in Mt Hope for a check-up. Investigators said he had minor bruises to the face and was to be interviewed and taken back to his home in St Joseph Village, San Fernando, last evening.
Up to last night, there was a large contingent of police and soldiers combing the Laventille and Beetham Garden districts searching for suspects.
Laing, 54, whose family owns the popular Puff N Stuff Bakery along Circular Road, Vistabella and the Trade Winds Hotel in St Joseph Village, was the latest of three south business owners to be kidnapped in recent years. Designer Kirby Mohammed and produce importer Caroline Katwaroo were both kidnapped 2015 while hair stylist Ria Sookdeo was taken in 2016. Those three victims were never found and ransoms were not demanded.
Yesterday around 3 am, police said Laing went to open the bakery so staff could begin preparations for the 6 am opening. Around 3.10 am, one of his employees arrived and saw his Mercedes Benz at the side of the building with a cell phone and a bunch of keys on the ground. One of his brothers reported to police that around 4 am he received a phone call from someone demanding a ransom of $270,000 for his safe return. The call was said to have originated from the Beetham Gardens area.
A party of officers from the San Fernando CID and Mon Repos Police Station, led by Insp Don Gajadhar, responded and statements were taken from a few people. Laing’s car was taken to the Mon Repos Police Station for processing. There were no CCTV cameras nearby and police said they were not able to get a description of possible suspects or the vehicle used in the kidnapping. They suspect he was held up at the business and taken away.
Following the kidnapping, DCP Harold Phillip called a meeting of senior officers, which included Snr Supt Boxhill, ASP Ajit Persad, Snr Supt Mohammed, Insp Gajadhar and officers from the Port-of-Spain Division, Southern Division, AKU and the T&T Defence Force.
There were several social media reports that Laing was found earlier in the day, but Hackshaw confirmed he was only found around 5.05 pm. He said police had aggressively pursued all leads in an effort to safely return Laing to his family. Relatives and staff declined to speak about his disappearance earlier in the day, saying it was at a sensitive stage. However, it was business as usual as the bakery remained open. San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello, however, condemned the “reprehensible actions” by Laing’s kidnappers.
Regrello said while the city has mostly avoided the brunt of criminal activity in T&T, the kidnapping further galvanized the need for all citizens to take back the city. He called on citizens who may have information regarding the kidnapping to contact the San Fernando police and pass on any information.
“Mr Laing is one of San Fernando’s model business owners and is noted for providing employment to many of the citizens of San Fernando, while the charitable contributions of his company are a testament to Mr Laing’s dedication towards the city of San Fernando,” Regrello said.
