An Israeli diamond merchant in Lithuania on business was kidnapped by three locals, who demanded his family pay $57,000 ransom for his release, Ynet learned on Tuesday.
He contacted his girlfriend in Eilat, who filed a complaint with the police. Lithuanian police officers rescued the man from his captors' custody two days later, in good condition. The kidnappers were arrested.
The Israeli arrived in the capital, Vilna, last Sunday, and was attacked by the kidnappers. He asked to contact his girlfriend in order for her to transfer the required money, and her call to the police saved his life.
Police sources told Ynet Interpol and the Israel Police representative in Moscow quickly took on the case. A covert investigation ensued, and the Lithuanian police were notified.
Head of the Lithuanian criminal police bureau activated the elite ARAS unit, which traced the source of the phone call. A Lithuanian police source told Ynet the captive was released in a special rescue operation held near the bank where the captors demanded the money be transferred.
The source said, "Special forces awaited the two suspects and apprehended them after a short struggle. The captive was not harmed."
The source said the police representative in Moscow phoned the suspects and told them the money had been transferred to them as they requested. "They took him out of the hideout where they had held him for almost two days and then went with him to withdraw the money."
The two were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and holding a hostage. Lithuanian police said further arrests could be expected. "The kidnappers know the businessman and we are certain they had accomplices. There is reason to believe that if the money did not arrive in time, they would have murdered him. During his time in captivity, a gun was held to his head, but they did provide him with food and water," the source said.
Lithuanian police expressed their gratitude for the productive cooperation between the forces and said they would not have been able to secure the man's swift release with the help of the Israel Police and its representative in Russia.