Businessman kidnapped, robbed at gunpoint

…retired cop arrested

Detectives in Regional Police Division 4A are probing the alleged abduction of a 35-year-old businessman of Belmont, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who was allegedly kidnapped on Monday afternoon.
Jagdesh Mangal, the businessman, Police say, was abducted at about 19:00h, at a popular bar located at Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown. He was also relieved of over $3.6 million worth of gold and diamond jewellery, by two suspects.
Based on reports, the victim and the suspects are known to each other and they have an ongoing dispute over money.
According to the victim, on Monday, he was at the bar in Kitty, Georgetown, imbibing, when the two suspects, along with a retired cop arrived in a vehicle.
The men then exited the car, approached Mangal and the two suspects began punching him about his body while telling him that they wanted their money.
The retired policeman was allegedly heard telling the suspects to take the victim away. The victim was then forced into the back seat of the vehicle. The victim further claimed that while in the vicinity of Vlissengen Road, one of the suspects pointed a gun at him and relieved him of a gold and diamond band valued at $1.5 million, a black diamond with a gold ring valued at $1.2 million and one gold chain valued at $900,000.
Mangal also told cops that he was taken to the home of one of the suspects in Kitty where he was forced at gunpoint to sign a note stating that he owed $900,000 to the suspects.
The 35-year-old businessman was taken to a hotel on Church Street, where he was ordered out of the vehicle by the two men.
The matter was subsequently reported to the Brickdam Police Station.
Meanwhile, detectives who visited the bar at Station Street, Kitty, questioned several persons including the proprietor in relation to the incident, and the retired policeman was arrested.
He is presently in custody at the Kitty Police Station assisting with investigations, while the two other suspects remain at large.
Footage from several CCTV cameras is yet to be reviewed as investigations continue. (G8)