The statement allegedly given by murder accused Vivian Clarke, outlining his involvement in the kidnapping of businesswoman Samdaye Rampersad, was yesterday read to the court.

The statement was recorded on January 6, 2006 by PCs Rose and Bane of the Homicide Bureau.

Clarke, is among nine men charged with the kidnapping and murder of Rampersad.

The accused are-Phillip ’The Boss’ Boodram, Kervin ’Arch Eye’ Williams, Aaron ’Kenna’ Grappie, Steve ’Boops’ McGilvery, Pernell Martin, Ricky Singh, Roger Mootoo and Bobby Sankar.

The court heard that when officers cautioned Clarke, he said: ’Officer, ah go tell allyuh all I know, I was involved in the kidnapping, but I do not know about the murder.’

During the interview, Clarke said he went to work at Burke Terrace, in San Juan by a man called ’Soldier’.

Saying he only knew Soldier’s first name, which was Michael, Clarke said upon reaching Burke Terrace, he met with a group of men who were having conversations about ’a profit scene’.

The conversations also included a ’muffler man’ and kidnapping him. Clarke told the officers he was asked to organise a gun and car but informed Soldier he could get a gun and was unsure about the car.

Clarke said some days later after the plan was fine-tuned, Soldier called him saying: ’De bread in de oven.’

Noting he received another call from Soldier, Clarke said he was told to get a ’blazer’ (a phone which can only be used for calling out). Adding it was while looking at the news, he discovered the person kidnapped was a woman. Clarke said when he asked Soldier about this, he was told: ’Ah relative better than de man himself, If yuh kidnap he, yuh will not have access to de money. Rock back now and wait.’

Clarke said a few days later, Soldier moved out of Burke Terrace because of the kidnapping, and police were looking for him.

Adding he was able to borrow a spin-barrel firearm from a ’youth in Pioneer Drive’, Clarke said he was able to get a blazer from a man named ’Strongy’. ’He was a con man then, anything yuh want, he could get it for you.’ The matter continues on Monday.

Rampersad, 45, was snatched from her Irving Street, Petit Bourg, home on November 26, 2005. Her decomposing body was found in a shallow grave in Claxton Bay on January 5 the following year.