In a stunning turnaround, the cabby hailed as a hero for taking an abandoned baby to a Queens firehouse Thursday was arrested today for making up the dramatic story of an infant rescue that captivated the city.
Livery-cab hack Klever Sailema allegedly teamed up with the child’s dad and paternal aunt to enact a bizarre plot to get rid of the kid, after the little girl’s 14-year-old mother said she could no longer handle being a mom, police sources said.
The plot unraveled late Friday night, when the baby’s maternal aunt dragged the mom down to the 115th Precinct station house in Queens to report that they were related to the tot, who was dubbed “Lourdes” by hospital workers but whose real name is Daniella.
Sailema eventually confessed to the plot, sources said. Now he is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and filing a false report.
The 27-year-old father’s sister, Maria Siavichay, 21, of The Bronx – who is Sailema’s girlfriend – was arrested and charged with helping to organize the plot. But late yesterday, all charges against her were dropped.
A man who lives with Siavichay, Marcelo Vinansaca, 24, was also charged with obstruction, for allegedly lying to cops when they came to question Siavichay. The charges against him were also dropped.
Cops were still searching for the child’s father, Carlos Rodas, yesterday. When found, he may be charged with statutory rape because of the mom’s age.
The teen mother, meanwhile, is in the custody of the Administration for Children’s Services – as is her 6-month-old daughter.
According to police sources, the plot began when the young mom decided she couldn’t handle motherhood and left the tot with her father.
Rodas – who neighbors said called the teen mom his “wife” – also became overwhelmed with parenthood.
He was spotted crying in the hallway of the Bronx apartment where he and his sister live. He complained to anyone who would listen that the 14-year-old had left him with the baby.
Telma Alvarez, 30, a baby sitter, said Rodas’ desperation lasted more than a week. She said that the dad came to her on Feb. 12 and asked her to watch the infant.
She said he pleaded: “Please take care of this baby, I’ll lose my job,” and she agreed to care for the baby for just the next day.
Eventually, the dad, his sister and Sailema came up with the plan to leave the baby at a Corona, Queens, firehouse near where Sailema lived. When he got there, he concocted a dramatic tale that the baby was abandoned, drawing massive public attention.
A day after news of the “rescue” hit the media – and Sailema started being lauded as a “hero” – the baby’s young mom and aunt surfaced and told cops they were related to little “Lourdes.”
Police then revisited Sailema and arrested him.
The charges for Sailema – which are misdemeanors – represent a huge comedown after he spent Thursday and Friday as the toast of the town.
He gave press conferences telling and retelling the allegedly false tale of how a mysterious man abandoned the baby by jumping out of his livery cab on Northern Boulevard.
He was lauded for quick thinking because he took the child to the firehouse of Engine 289 to be “rescued.”
The Taxi and Limousine Commission heaped praise on him, and even said they would name him Driver of the Year.
Yesterday, in no surprise, TLC spokesman Allan Fromberg said Sailema’s pending honor had been canceled.
But Fernando Mateo, the head of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, stood by Sailema yesterday – even vowing to pay for his legal defense.
He said the driver lied to cops only after his plan to leave the baby at the firehouse under the state’s Safe Haven law failed.
“He told me ‘Fernando, I didn’t understand what was going to happen [when he dropped the baby off]. I thought I could drop the baby off no questions asked.’
“That’s when he had to make something up,” Mateo said. “The Fire Department didn’t take the baby like they were supposed to, no questions.”
Under the law, signed in 2000, moms can give up their babies only up to five days after birth with no penalties. After that, authorities are notified.