Two charged over kidnap and death of Andrew Ramsay

Nov 30 2008 By Norman Silvester

TWO men have been arrested and charged in connection with the kidnap and death of accountant Andrew Ramsay.

Derek Menzies and Ian Miller were held overnight in cells before being released yesterday.

Andrew was abducted in February 2006 by two men apparently posing as police officers.

His skull was found by fishermen more than a year later.

Andrew's girlfriend Beverley Sinclair, 55, is a potential witness.

She saw the 51-year-old getting into a car with two men on February 22, 2006, outside his home in Cardonald, Glasgow.

That night Rangers were playing Villarreal in a Champions League match at nearby Ibrox and police appealed to fans for clues.

The case took detectives to England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Belgium.

But it was wound up four months after Andrew went missing.

Part of the inquiry focused on Andrew's alleged involvement in a s500million carousel VAT fraud. A few weeks before he disappeared the dad-of-two was quizzed by customs officers over his work for a mobile phone firm at the centre of the probe.

In May last year his skull was found by fishermen off Little Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde. Searches failed to locate any other body parts.

The men were held on Friday in Govan Police Station, Glasgow, and asked to take part in ID parades.

A hunt for Andrew was launched when Beverley contacted the police four hours after he left home and was told they did not have her partner under arrest.

Andrew, who was separated at the time from his wife, Eleanor, was a certified accountant. After splitting from Eleanor in 2004, Andrew moved to Belgium, where he had a 10-month affair with married former model Marijke Vannut, 50.

She said he was "always looking over his shoulder wherever he went".

She added: "He said there were people from Dubai looking for him. He told me he was afraid he might be killed by these people in Dubai."

Last night Strathclyde Police said: "Two men, aged 44 and 46, have been charged in relation to the abduction and death of Andrew Ramsay. Areport is being prepared for the fiscal."

Beverley refused to comment.

TIMELINE: THE RAMSAY RIDDLE

February 22, 2006: Andrew Ramsay is abducted by two men at about 7pm in Berryknowes Road, Cardonald, Glasgow.

February 25, 2006: Police reveal they have had a "poor response" from the public after an appeal for information.

February 28, 2006: Andrew's brother Stewart makes a public appeal, saying: "If someone is holding Andrew against his will, please release him."

March 1, 2006: Police quiz motorists and pedestrians at the site of the abduction.

March 8, 2006: A police reconstruction of the abduction is staged at the scene.

March 11, 2006: A 15-second appeal is broadcast to 50,000 football fans at Ibrox.

April 7, 2006: Crimestoppers offer a s5000 reward for information about Andrew.

June 22, 2006: Police receive reports of sightings of him after a reconstruction is shown on Crimewatch.

August 23, 2006: A number of people arrested in connection with VAT fraud are quizzed about the mystery.

April 5, 2007: A fishing boat nets a human skull in the Firth of Clyde.

May 30, 2007: Police confirm the skull is Andrew's.

November 28, 2008: Two men are charged over his death and kidnap.