FOUR MORE EXTRADITED FOR MAHARAJ'S KIDNAPPING

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000369

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, INR/IAA AND INL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2018
TAGS: KCRM PGOV PREL ASEC CASC TD
SUBJECT: FOUR MORE EXTRADITED FOR MAHARAJ'S KIDNAPPING

Classified By: Classified by Charge Len Kusnitz; Reason 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: Four persons wanted in the 2005 kidnapping
for ransom and murder of dual national (U.S./Trinidad) Balram
"Balo" Maharaj were extradited to Washington, D.C. on August

4. Of the 15 originally arrested in the case, only three
remain in T&T. The gruesome kidnapping and murder of "Balo"
was front page news here, as was the FBI's latest extradition
of suspects. The 2006 arrest of the 15 persons allegedly
involved in the case -- greatly assisted by the FBI --
coincided with a precipitous drop in for ransom kidnappings.
End Summary.


2. (U) Zion Clarke, Kevon Demerieux and soldiers Cpl. Ricardo
de Four and Sgt. Leon Nurse were extradited August 5 to
Washington, D.C. to face trial in the kidnapping and murder
of dual national Balram "Balo" Maharaj. These four men,
along with eleven others, allegedly entered a conspiracy to
kidnap Maharaj outside the Samaan Tree Bar in Aranguez, San
Juan on April 5, 2005. A ransom of TT$3 million (about
US$500,000) was demanded, but no money was paid. On January
8, 2006, Maharaj's dismembered body was found in two
containers in the Santa Cruz forest.


3. (C) Following a joint investigation with the FBI, fifteen
persons were arrested. Of these 15, four agreed to go
directly to the U.S. to stand trial (one was subsequently
acquitted); eight decided to fight their extradition, and the
three others were not indicted in the U.S. and remain subject
to the local justice system. Earlier this year, four
suspects lost their appeal and were extradited to the U.S.
The remaining four have now joined their alleged colleagues
in crime. In approving the latest extradition, Attorney
General Bridgid Annisette-George noted the central role of
the FBI in breaking the case and USG assurances that the
death penalty would not be sought against the accused.


4. (C) The 2006 arrest of those alleged to be involved in
the "Balo" case coincided with a sharp drop in for ransom
kidnappings. In 2005, there were 58 such crimes. These fell
to 17 in 2006 and 11 in 2007; there has been an uptick this
year to 11 as of the start of August. Although the GOTT does
not confirm the link, other information suggests those
arrested were responsible for 20 - 30 kidnappings prior to
their incarceration. Their "takedown" also seems to have
given pause to other criminal gangs that law enforcement
authorities, sometimes with outside aid (and especially in
cases involving foreign nationals),were becoming more
proficient at investigating kidnappings.
KUSNITZ