By RHONDOR DOWLAT Monday, May 12 2008

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A warning sign reading, "Haleland Park Crime Watch Area" stands opposite the Pineapple Place, Haleland Park, Maraval residence of Dr Julian Kenny. ...

BOUTIQUE owner Philippa Talma, 45 was released safely into the hands of her family after a $100,000 ransom was paid to her kidnappers on Saturday.

According to a police report, at about 6 am, Talma, the daughter of environmental expert and former Independent Senator Dr Julian Kenny, who was kidnapped on May 2, was freed in an area near the Forres Park dump in Claxton Bay.

The $100,000 ransom paid to her kidnappers was significantly lower than the $3 million ransom initially demanded by Talma’s kidnappers.

Police investigators claimed the swap, whereby Talma was released in exchange for the money, took place somewhere in South Trinidad. A police source told Newsday that the transaction was made directly between Talma’s relatives and her kidnappers some time on Saturday night.

Upon her release, Talma was taken to the St Clair Medical Centre, where she was medically examined and treated, according to police reports.

She was then taken to her father’s residence at Pineapple Place, Haleland Park, Maraval. Talma’s mother, Joan, is a former principal of the University of the West Indies Preparatory School and is a well-known artist.

When Newsday went to that residence yesterday shortly before noon, relatives who were seated on the verandah of the house declined to comment on the incident. When asked about Talma’s release and health, “No comment please” was the response.

A short while later, a security vehicle approached and the officer asked this reporter what was my purpose there. After being told that Newsday was following up on Talma’s release, he said “ok” and drove off.

A few minutes later, the security officer returned and monitored what was going on.

The family has refused to talk to the media since Talma was kidnapped.

Those on the verandah eventually went inside the home. One female relative came out a few minutes later, entered her vehicle, drove it closer to the house and went back inside.

Up until 12.30 pm yesterday, Talma had not been interviewed by investigating officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) and the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT), sources said.

Talma, who is divorced and a mother of two teenaged sons, was kidnapped at about 6.45 pm on May 2, outside her clothing boutique “Philippa London”, on Saddle Road, Maraval. She was forced into a blue Nissan Wingroad, which was later found abandoned in Maraval. This led investigators to believe that she was placed in another vehicle and then taken away.

According to police reports, the kidnapping occurred in full view of security guards and neighbours.

Some time in the afternoon of May 3 Talma’s father, Kenny, was contacted by her kidnappers who demanded $3 million for her release.

However, the ransom was reduced to $2 million two days later (May 4). That same day, officers of the North-Eastern Division Task Force, AKS and SAUTT executed several search warrants at houses in Morvant and Maraval where they arrested nine men, whose ages ranged from 20 to 24.

Investigators believe that a woman may have played a key role in the kidnapping.

Last week Monday, May 5, relatives were allowed to speak briefly to Talma on the telephone. Police said the conversation lasted less than two minutes.

On May 7, four suspects detained for questioning in the kidnapping were subsequently released.

On May 8, another man, this time from Princes Town, was detained for questioning and raised suspicion that Talma was being kept somewhere in south Trinidad. Later that same day, officers again searched four houses in Red Hill, Morvant, where they detained two more men in their 20s for questioning. Investigators said one suspect admitted to knowing of the plan to kidnap Talma. Police suspect that Talma was handed over to another group of men who did the negotiating.

Talma was the seventh person kidnapped for the year thus far. Investigations are continuing.