Two Cubans charged in alleged staged kidnapping matter

Two Cuban nationals were charged and remanded to prison on Monday after they were allegedly involved in a staged kidnapping matter.

The Cuban nationals are Daikol Tartabull Rodriguez, a 22-year-old Cuban national and labourer of Grove, East Bank Demerara, and Iban Martinez, a 28-year-old Cuban national and labourer of North Road, Georgetown. They were both charged with Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.

The men were arrested on Wednesday, June 3. They appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the charge was read to them.

They were not required to plead and were remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to June 22, 2026.

According to reports reaching the News Room, a photograph showing Martinez with what appeared to be a firearm in his mouth was sent to his father in the United States along with a request for money.

Police launched an investigation and reviewed CCTV footage from a North Road, Georgetown building where Martinez had been staying. The footage led investigators to a property on the East Bank of Demerara, where Martinez and several other persons were found.

During a search, police recovered an air pistol believed to be the one seen in the photograph. Several persons, including a Police Constable and other Cuban nationals, were detained and questioned.

However, the News Room was told during questioning, Martinez reportedly told investigators that he had not been kidnapped. He claimed the air pistol belonged to him and that he asked another man to place it in his mouth while a photograph was taken. He also reportedly admitted to sending the image to his father while requesting US$1,500.

The post Two Cubans charged in alleged staged kidnapping matter appeared first on News Room Guyana.