$4M ransom via text
By NALINEE SEELAL
Saturday, April 16 2011
KIDNAPPERS have via cellular phone text messaging, demanded a $4 million ransom for the safe release of kidnap victim Xue Hua Shan who was snatched on her way home from work on Wednesday night.
Police investigators from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit revealed yesterday that on Thursday a man sent a text message to relatives of Hua Shan, the owners of Hong Kong Supermarket located at the corner of Broadway and South Quay in Port-of-Spain, demanding the $4 million ransom. The person sending the text promised to send another in three days with further instructions.
Yesterday officers of the AKU searched several areas in Santa Cruz, Blanchisseuse, and Maracas with the hope of locating the 31-year-old businesswoman who is originally from China, but has been living in Trinidad for several years to no avail.
Investigators said they are working on a certain lead and are hopeful of locating the victim.
Yesterday, Senior Super-intendent Wayne Boyd, head of the AKU, told Newsday that a joint team of officers are working around the clock to bring closure to this investigation and have the victim returned to her relatives.
However, police sources revealed yesterday that they are working on several theories which may have led to the victim being snatched. The police have no eyewitness account of the businesswoman being taken away and are calling on members of the public to come forward and assist in the probe.
According to police reports, at about 11.45 pm on Wednesday a gold-coloured Nissan Tiida car (PCN 1637) was found abandoned by relatives of the car’s owner, Xue Hua Shan. Hua Shan, police said, is the owner and operator of Happy Garden Restaurant located in the same building that houses Japs Fried Chicken in St Helena, Caroni.
Investigators said they were told that at about 9 pm on Wednesday, she left the restaurant and was expected at her apartment complex home at about 10 pm. However, police said when she failed to arrive home and calls to her cellphone went unanswered, relatives and friends contacted the police. A party of officers quickly responded and Hua Shan’s car was found abandoned along Seventh Street, Barataria, about six houses away from where she lives.
Yesterday the restaurant which the victim operates with her brother remained opened for business. Investigators believe that the victim may have been followed from her business place on Wednesday night by persons intent on kidnapping her. Her kidnapping is the third for ransom for the year thus far.
Chinese pray for kidnapped businesswoman.
Sunday, April 17 2011
T&T Newsday
THE CHINESE Community is fervently offering up prayers for the safe return of kidnap victim Chinese national Xue Hua Shan, 31, who was kidnapped near her Barataria apartment on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) claimed they have no leads but assured that they were continuing with their searches for her. So far, officers have searched several areas in Santa Cruz, Blanchisseuse and Maracas.
Speaking with Sunday Newsday, an officer claimed that Xue’s kidnappers have not contacted her family since the $4 million ransom demand SMS text message which was sent via cellphone on Thursday evening.
Also speaking with Sunday Newsday yesterday, Chinese Interpreter Joe Chan said the Chinese community here in Trinidad was very saddened on hearing the news. He added that several of them (resident Chinese nationals) even gathered at a Chinese-speaking church in St James where they offered fervent prayers for her safe return.
“We do not know of her or her family personally because we have never seen them around but we heard of the incident and we are very saddened. We barely knew anything about that girl (Xue) but we, at the church are faithfully praying and hoping for her safe return,” Chan said.
According to police reports, at about 11.45 pm on Wednesday a gold-coloured Nissan Tida car (PCN 1637) was found abandoned by relatives of the car’s owner, Xue Hua Shan. Hua Shan, police said, is the owner and operator of Happy Garden Restaurant located in the same building that houses Japs Fried Chicken in St Helena, Caroni.
Investigators said they were told that at about 9 pm on Wednesday, she left the restaurant and was expected at her apartment complex home at about 10 pm. However, police said when she failed to arrive home and calls to her cellphone went unanswered, relatives and friends contacted the police. A party of officers quickly responded and Hua Shan’s car was found abandoned along Seventh Street, Barataria, about six houses away from where she lives.
Yesterday the restaurant which the victim operates with her brother remained opened for business. Investigators believe that the victim may have been followed from her business place on Wednesday night by persons intent on kidnapping her. Her kidnapping is the third for ransom for the year thus far.
On Thursday, relatives of Hua Shan, the owners of Hong Kong Supermarket located at the corner of Broadway and South Quay in Port-of-Spain, received a text message believed to be from Xue’s kidnappers demanding a $4 million ransom. The person sending the text promised to send another in three days with further instructions.
Police said the three day time span is supposed to be “some time today”.
