Missing mother told police that she was ‘living home’ with man

Jul 26, 2008 News

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 Two men released on bail

The saga continued Thursday with the story of 22-year-old Shalini Pereira who had related to her parents that she was kidnapped and drugged by a man whom she did not know.
However, the police on Thursday issued a statement on the matter which clearly indicated that on July 20, Pereira’s mother, Bibi Nesha, her husband Desmond Pereira and Shalini Pereira herself went to the Albion Police Station where the parents reported that they had found their daughter at New Amsterdam, alive and well.
A written statement was then taken from Shalini Pereira in the presence of her mother and father in which, among other things, she said that after taking her four-year-old son to his father’s home she went to the home of a female friend at 41 Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam. She told the police that she remained there for a few days during which time she met one Sean Paul with whom she developed an intimate relationship.
The young mother also told the police that she stayed there until July 20, 2008 when she learned of the publication in the newspapers that she was missing and she used her female friend’s cell phone and called her mother.
She further stated that Sean Paul treated her well and that he did not keep her against her will. However, what the police found strange is that on the next day, July 21, 2008, the woman changed her story when she arrived in Georgetown and gave another written statement at the Central Police Station.
According to the statement, Pereira told the police that when she and her son arrived at the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling on July 10, 2008, a man approached her and told her that her husband had sent him to collect her.
She said that she was skeptical but he produced a photograph of her husband, herself and child, and this convinced her of his story.
Shalini told the police in the city that she and her son were then placed into a motor car and taken to 41 Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, to an incomplete building where she met Sean Paul.
She further told the police that the next day Sean Paul tied up her hands and feet with rope, placed a cloth over her mouth and injected her with something and she lost consciousness and when she regained consciousness, she found that she was bleeding.
She said that later that day Sean Paul told her that he was taking her to her husband and took her to the Fyrish Bus Shed where she handed over her son to a girl who called herself  “Selena” after which she was taken back to 41 Housing Scheme.
Shalini Pereira stated that at about 21:00hrs on July 17, 2008 a man came and told her that he had seen her photograph in the newspapers as being missing and gave her a cell phone to call her mother whom she told that she was being held against her will by Sean Paul.
She further said that on July 20, 2008 Sean Paul told her that her parents were coming for her and he placed her into a motor vehicle and went to the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling where she met her parents.
The police subsequently arrested three men during investigations into this matter. Two of them have since been released on cash bail.
Meanwhile, the police statement also noted that Pereira’s husband, Jermaine Paul had made a report to the Albion Police Station on July 11, 2008 where he stated that on July 10, 2008 his wife brought their four-year-old son to his Fyrish Village home and left him with the grandmother.
Her husband then stated that Pereira left the house to collect a bag at No. 19 Village Corentyne and never returned.
Pereira’s parents had denied that she was ‘living home’ with the man, Sean Paul. They were insistent that she was held against her will and even accused her husband and mother-in-law of being the ones who spearheaded the alleged kidnapping.
A neighbour, Edel Stewart, whose husband, James Perry was arrested in relation to the incident had also revealed that Pereira was never held against her will. The woman had noted that the men were being framed since Pereira was indeed ‘living home’ with Sean Paul as they all used to cook, eat and dwell together.
After that report was carried in Thursday’s edition of this newspaper, the parents of Pereira arrived at Kaieteur News early that morning with the young mother to prove their point that the woman was indeed drugged and abused. They stuck to their story that Pereira was kidnapped.
Her mother also indicated needle holes on Pereira’s hands where they claimed she was pierced when the man drugged her. The parents are claiming that since the incident, Pereira has not been herself as she is unable to eat and can hardly walk.
When her parents visited Kaieteur News on Thursday, Shalini Pereira was in the vehicle and appeared to be fast asleep.

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