A couple in Arima faced a terrifying ordeal on Sunday evening when they were held hostage by five armed men during a ransom demand incident. The male victim received a WhatsApp message from an acquaintance known as “Witchu” to collect a package, prompting him and his girlfriend to travel to the specified location around 5:00 p.m. Upon their arrival, they were ambushed by five men, including individuals of Spanish, African, and East Indian descent. The attackers tied the couple up and assaulted the male victim while demanding a ransom of US$5,000 for their release. Under duress, he was compelled to contact a relative of his girlfriend to arrange for a partial payment, ultimately delivering TT$3,000 at a nearby Massy Stores compound. The male victim was released around 10:00 p.m., after which he provided police with the location of his girlfriend, who was still being held. Investigations led by PC Seetaram of the Arima Police Station are currently ongoing.
