Frank Jean-Baptiste, A U.S. citizen who was kidnapped last week from his home in Haiti's capital was rescued today (August 30) after Haiti's anti-kidnapping unit surrounded his captors' hideout. According to Francois Dossous, head of the unit, kidnappers sensed the police were moving in on them and fled, leaving Jean-Baptiste unharmed. Kidnappers had demanded a US$300,000 ransom.
COMMENT: Considering that a well-known Haitian notary, Gilbert Giordani, was also kidnapped during the same week that Jean-Baptiste was abducted, there was concern in law enforcement circles that the two kidnappings might be indicative of a spike in ransom kidnappings. Giordani was abducted from his BMW in Port-au-Prince on Friday (August 26), but passers-by found his body the next day. Compliments go out to Dossous and his anti-kidnapping unit.
COMMENT: Considering that a well-known Haitian notary, Gilbert Giordani, was also kidnapped during the same week that Jean-Baptiste was abducted, there was concern in law enforcement circles that the two kidnappings might be indicative of a spike in ransom kidnappings. Giordani was abducted from his BMW in Port-au-Prince on Friday (August 26), but passers-by found his body the next day. Compliments go out to Dossous and his anti-kidnapping unit.
