…driver missing, relative plea for safe return

A CAR found abandoned is believed to be the one used by the Camp Street prison escapees. The car is in police custody at the East La Penitence Police station.

Police issued a wanted bulletin for four of the missing prisoners in relation to murder and escaping from lawful custody from the Camp Street Prison Sunday.

They are Stafrei Hopkenson Alexander, 32, of Laing Avenue, Georgetown; Sherwin Nero called “Catty” of Friendship/Buxton, East Coast Demerara and Lot 74 Dennis Street, Sophia; Mark Royden Durant aka Royden Williams, and Uree Varswyck, also known as Malcolm Gordon. The fifth suspect was masked and has not yet been identified.

Relatives of the owner of the burgundy Toyota 212 car that was found abandoned, bearing licence plate number PKK- 4103 are calling on the police to launch an investigation into the disappearance of the driver, who they believed was kidnapped. Missing is 22-year-old Matthew Shivtahal.

Police confirmed that investigators Monday questioned a woman who claims that four men, believed to be the prison escapees, forced her and her children out of her friend’s car on Sunday afternoon and took the friend hostage when he was in the vicinity of Camp and John Streets.

The missing man’s wife, Roshni Shivtahal, said that she was told by a family friend who was with her husband travelling in his vehicle with her children, that at Camp and Hadfield Streets, in the vicinity of Kei-Shar’s, four men armed with guns hijacked the car and driver.
Shivtahal said she was told that when her husband attempted to hand the keys over to the men, he was told to drive the car. One of the armed bandits then placed a gun to his temple forcing him back into the driver’s seat while the others boarded.

“He was wearing a three quartered flowered pants, a slippers, a blue and black hat and a pink T-shirt,” she said.

The relatives visited the East La Penitence Police station, where they confirmed that Shivtahal’s car was in police custody. They then visited the Brickdam Police Station to make a report.

The relatives are asking for Shivtahal’s safe return and are asking that anyone who may know the whereabouts of Matthew Shivtahal, to kindly contact the nearest police station or relatives on 600-2280 or 600-1649.