P.8-M 'pooled' for kidnap try on Indian sect leader - witness

MANILA, Philippines –  A witness in the foiled abduction of Indian sect president James Kumar alleged that P850,000 was pooled for a certain “major” to carry out the assault last December.

In a five-page affidavit submitted to the Pasay City prosecutor’s office, Amritpal Singh claimed the money was prepared by Saudagar Singh and Gurmail Singh, upon the instructions of Gurdarshan “Geedee” Singh.

Amritpal, a worker for Gurdarshan, said he decided to come out after receiving several death threats. “He kept telling me to go back to India or else my family and I would be killed,” he said. 

“I asked my companions what it was all about. Saudagar said that the money was for the Major. Then Geedee said in Punjabi dialect: We are the kings of Punjabi, Joni (Kumar’s nickname) and his companions are finished, no one can touch us... Saudagar Singh, Deepak Kumar, and Baldev Singh Brar then all laughed and applauded,” Amritpal said.

The witness claimed the suspects – including a certain Gurmail Singh – belong to the same group that killed Kumar’s brother two years ago. He said he was with them when Kumar was attacked in Pasay City in December 2010.

Except for Gurmail, the four Indians have been charged with double murder together with three Quezon City policemen – Chief Inspector Edwin Faycho, head of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) anti-drug unit; Police Officer 2 Edmund Faculdar; PO1 Mark Edward Zapata – for the kidnap-slay of Ferdinand Ret and Andie Ngie, who were with Kumar during the attack. Days later, their remains were separately found in Bataan and Pangasinan provinces.

They also face attempted kidnapping and frustrated homicide for the foiled abduction and shooting of Kumar; direct assault and frustrated murder for the shooting of Senior Inspector Renato Apolinario, who came to James’ aid; and car theft for commandeering Ngie’s Mazda Friendee van (BDM-479), which remains missing.

‘Dubious’

The lawyers of Saudagar and Gurdarshan, however, questioned Amritpal’s credibility.

“If that is the same Amritpal my client knows, then I wonder how he was able to issue an affidavit when in fact he is in hiding for a rape case,” lawyer Ronald Paas, who represents Saudagar, said. “Rape is non-bailable so why is he (Amritpal) free and where is he?”

Lawyer Rodil Millado, who represents Gurdarshan and Baldev, echoed Paas’ view. “His credibility is questionable because he has a pending rape case according to my client,” he told The STAR in a separate phone interview.

Both lawyers, however, were not sure if Amritpal who filed his affidavit is the same person their clients described.

According to Amritpal, Gurdarshan called him on Dec. 19, 2010 and gave instructions to meet him along UN Avenue morning of the next day. When the two saw each other, Gurdarshan told him to board a Honda Civic, where he sat beside Saudagar, Deepak, Baldev, and Gurmail.

They proceeded to a house in Manila where they met three other Indian nationals with whom he was not familiar. Several minutes later, the Indians pooled P850,000 for a “major.” The money was picked up by a motorcycle-riding man two hours before they proceeded to Pasay. It was not stated if the “Major” received the money or not.

“Along FB Harrison street in Pasay City, there was a commotion. Geedee Singh stopped the car. I saw a policeman on the right side of the street by the sidewalk with his gun drawn. I suddenly saw James Kumar running towards the policeman, followed by several men with guns,” Amritpal said.

He said “Geedee Singh quickly took his pistol from the glove compartment and went (out of) the car. Saudagar Singh and Deepak Kumar also went out of the car and followed Geedee.”

“About the same time, several gunshots were fired. The policeman fell. I saw (James) running towards and past our car. He appeared wounded. Geedee shouted to the armed men to run after Kumar and kill him. He said ‘habulin nyo at tapusin nyo na (go after him and finish it),’” Amritpal said.

When James disappeared, the group went back to Manila. Amritpal said Geedee “was very angry” about the interference of Apolinario, which allowed James to get away.