Kidnapped car dealer freed
Stabroek News
October 3, 2002

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Kamal Seebarran has been reunited with his family a day after he was kidnapped by four gunmen at his Sheriff Street auto dealership.

Seebarran, one of two brothers who operate Ray’s Motor Spares and Auto Sales, was dropped off at 2 p.m. yesterday at the back of the Sophia Squatting Area. He reportedly called his wife, who went to pick him up.

The 37-year-old businessman and his family have since gone into hiding. But in a brief telephone interview from his safe haven, Seebarran told Stabroek News that he was blindfolded throughout the entire ordeal and did not see, nor hear anything. “I was treated very well,” the businessman said. He did not say whether any ransom was paid to secure his safe return.

Seebarran’s Section ‘M’ Campbellville home was deserted yesterday and it still bore the ‘For Sale’ sign that was on the property on the day of the kidnapping.

Chaos had reigned Tuesday when four men wearing bulletproof vests and carrying AK-47s walked into Seebarran’s establishment and grabbed him at about 8:30 a.m.

An eyewitness, who was standing opposite the dealership at the time Seebarran was snatched, had told this newspaper that the gunmen emerged from a burgundy Toyota AE192, went into Seebarran’s business place and emerged three minutes later with their victim.

According to the police, the bandits robbed Seebarran and the other two men of a quantity of cash and jewellery, at gunpoint, before forcing Seebarran into a waiting car and escaping.

It has not been determined where the kidnappers took Seebarran, or how they managed to elude the law enforcers.

Some sources said the gunmen might have switched cars shortly after the kidnapping.

After the kidnapping the army’s helicopter had joined the search to locate the abductors’ vehicle. (Kim Lucas)