Gunman shoots at, robs Rikki Jai

(Trinidad Guardian) Chutney soca artiste Samraj “Rikki Jai” Jaimungal had to beg for his life after a gunman who shot at him and missed kept the loaded gun pointed at his waist for approximately three of the most terrifying minutes of his life, as he demanded money and other valuables in exchange for Jaimungal’s life on Wednesday.

“He threatened to shoot me but I begged for my life. I told him he did not have to shoot, I will hand over the money and he showed me some mercy and only robbed me. I have to thank God for that,” Jaimungal said in a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian on Thursday.

He said he did not know if the unmasked gunman recognised him and for that reason did not shoot him.

“I don’t know if he knew who I was but he showed mercy on me and I have to be grateful for that,” he said.

This is not the first time Jaimungal has been a target of criminals. He described a similar attack in Marabella, south Trinidad, in 1988.

“I was mugged in Marabella. I was hospitalised. I still have three inches of scars in my back as a reminder but the good Lord is not ready for me yet. He know I have three kids to take care of,” he said.

The crossover artiste, who is a semifinalist in both the International Soca Monarch and Chutney/Soca competitions with his 2016 hit “Leh We Fete”, explained that shortly after midnight yesterday, he and his band had just finished rehearsals at the Speedway Building, San Juan, when they noticed the driver of a Nissan B14 driving up and down the street.