Trini who faked kidnapping granted $1M bail

After almost a month on remand, a 33-year-old Trinidadian national who was arrested in Guyana for faking his own kidnapping and demanding US$700,000 from his family, was today released on $1M bail.

Sawak Maraj appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and denied charges of giving the police wrong information and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that on October 27 at Georgetown, Maraj knowingly gave false information to the police alleging that he was kidnapped and his abductors demanded $700,000US for his release.

The second charge alleged that on the same day at Madewini Resort on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway where Maraj was found, he conspired with other persons to negotiate for the ransom to be paid.

On Tuesday, November 21, Maraj’s Attorney, Bernard De Santos made a lengthy bail application for the foreign national to be released, since the police investigation is still incomplete.

The Magistrate released Maraj on $500,000 on each of the charges and adjourned the matter to December 4, 2017, where it will be recalled before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

According to reports, Maraj arrived in Guyana on the morning of October 27, 2017, on a Caribbean Airlines Flight, allegedly to attend an interview for potential employment. It was noted that a booking was made for him at the Ramada Princess Hotel, he never checked in there.

Relatives of Maraj were later contacted by unknown persons via phone who indicated that their son was in custody in Guyana and demanded a sum of money for his release. The relatives then contacted the Guyana Police Force who launched an investigation.

It was found that Maraj colluded with two other Trinidadian Nationals who arrived in Guyana on October 25, 2017, and checked in at the Madewini Resort.

The men were identified as Anil Antonio Mahabir and Vejhy Ramdass; both of whom the Police released wanted bulletins for on October 30.

The taxi driver who transported the men from the airport told detectives that when he was hired by Mahabir and Ramdass, they requested to be taken to that location. Once there, the taxi driver and the men exchanged telephone numbers.

The Trinidadians told the taxi driver that they had another colleague who would be arriving in the country on Friday and they provided him with details.

Once Maraj arrived, he joined the taxi willingly, having been briefed by his fellow countrymen; he was taken straight to the Madewini resort where he joined them.

The police managed to crack the case after reviewing CCTV footage from the airport and acquiring the license plate of the taxi driver who willingly cooperated with the police.