As police continue to investigate the disappearance of mas designer Kirby Mohammed, his family is being threatened to pay up or be killed.
Mohammed’s mother, Linda Mohammed, said people have been calling and sending text messages to family members, stating if they did not send large sums of United States dollars, via wire transfer, their business would be burned and they would be killed.
She said the text messages have since been passed on to the police.
Saturday will make it four months since Mohammed, 42, a director at his family’s Trinzuela Technical and Vocational College, San Fernando, and creative decorator of his company Ruffles & Bows went missing.
A report stated he was last seen on February 28 when he dropped off food at his home at St Joseph Village.
He told his mother he was heading to Port-of-Spain to buy costume material and would return for them to attend a comedy show at the Naparima Bowl that evening.
When WhatsApp and text messages went unanswered and calls to his mobile phone went to voicemail, a report was made to San Fernando police.
“I grieve for my son’s return and each day is like another nightmare to me.
His mother said: “Prayers and faith in God is what gives me the courage and strength to continue without Kirby who is my sole companion, day after day, since the death of his father 12 years ago.
“Why was he suddenly targeted and abducted or kidnapped? Was it envy, jealousy or just greed for money?
“Kirby worshipped in three religions—Hindu, Muslim and Christian faiths—and we are confident that all the spiritual forces will reveal his whereabouts as his family and friends, locally and internationally, continue to pray for answers.”
Strange occurrence
According to Linda, an eyewitness said she saw Mohammed speaking to a man and woman near their Chacon Street, San Fernando, college, following which they all entered Mohammed’s white Nissan AD wagon and drove off.
Up to this day, the wagon, registered PDC 5152, has not been recovered although there were reports that it was seen driving through Maloney and several communities in east Trinidad.
Checks of Mohammed’s bank account showed that $8,700 was withdrawn from an RBC ATM in Arima on the evening he disappeared.
A check of his Facebook account showed conversations with a close friend on February 26 and 27 of someone asking him for a large sum of money borrowed to pay bills but he refused.
Police also interviewed a couple, but they were released shortly after.
There were reports that Mohammed was killed and his body dumped in Maracas but the body found was not his.
Investigators said yesterday the case was still ongoing despite there being no new leads and appealed to any one with confidential information to contact Insp Don Gajadhar, Sgt Dale Ramroop or PC Barry Bacchus of the San Fernando CID at 652-2564 or the Anti Kidnapping Unit at 679-3165.
“I will never ever give up on searching for my son, who I am sure would never voluntarily walk away or give up on me or his brothers.
“I will continue to kneel and pray each day and be positive that he is still somewhere out there and that the good Lord will soon guide and lead us to the whole truth,” his mother said.