When this newspaper made contact with the man's family by telephone yesterday afternoon, a relative said they were still waiting word from Singh's kidnappers and were hoping and praying for his safe return.

According to the relative, three heavily armed men pulled up in a car in front of the businessman's home at Belvedere, De Hoop, around 17:45 hrs Tuesday.

The relative said the gunmen barged into the shop and while one proceeded to rob the place, the other two wrestled Singh to the ground where they handcuffed him.

It is understood that the men then bundled the businessman into a dark coloured Toyota Marino vehicle and was taken to an unknown destination on the lower East Coast.

According to the relative, the businessman was standing outside his business premises with a few of his employees when the gunmen struck.

His two children were reportedly not at home at the time.

It is further understood that Singh's employees were instructed to lie face down on the ground by the gunmen during the incident, which lasted for about two minutes.

Reports indicate that the men also escaped with a large amount of cash which Singh's wife was forced to hand over.

Police were yesterday continuing investigations.

According to Police sources, the car in which the man was reportedly taken away was later Tuesday intercepted at Beterverwagting by an Army and Police patrol.

However, only the driver was in the car and he was arrested and taken into custody at the Vigilance Police Station, the sources said.

This was the latest in a spate of kidnappings which began last year.