Criminals operating on Highway 2000 last Friday held up and robbed a well-known Jamaican public servant as she travelled the Kingston to May Pen leg of the roadway.

The attack occurred between the Spanish Town exit and the Vineyards toll booth, after a car with a group of well-dressed men signalled to the woman that something was wrong with the car she was driving.

The woman, whose name is being withheld, called her husband to explain to him what was happening, even as she pulled over and got out to inspect the car.

Her husband was still on the phone as she was checking the car when he heard her scream out, following which men's voices were heard saying "Lie down on the ground and shut yourmouth. Where's the money? Where's the money?" they kept asking.

'Insensitive' cops

The panicked husband called the police and he described their response as "insensitive".

According to the woman, at least two persons were in the car which stopped her, and they emerged from their car and pretended to help as she emerged from her car to look for the problem they had signalled.

The woman said she was held at gunpoint and pushed down the embankment of the highway where she rolled out of sight from passers-by. She was stripped her of her gold jewellery including her wedding band and earrings.

"They kept screaming at me as one held a gun on me as I lay at the bottom of the roadside embankment. The others searched the car and stole purse, money, cellphones and more," the deeply traumatised victim said.

She later found her car keys which were tossed in the bushes, and dazed and muddy and without her glasses, she managed to drive to the Vineyards toll booth where she made a report.

According to the victim, only a security guard spoke with her and she has not been contacted by any representative of the highway management since the incident.

Even as she gives God thanks, she is asking for alertness on the part of both male and female passengers traversing the toll, and, in particular, older men and women.

The incident has been reported to the police.