Italian intelligence made up story about hostage rescue to conceal ransom payment
The Italian government deliberately misled the media and public that the hostages' release was a result of a successful security force operation instead of a ransom payment which contradicts international response to kidnapping
Italy’s intelligence service helped concoct a false story about a rescue of hostages by security forces to hide a ransom payment, according to a leaked spy agency document.
The payment was made for the release of Bruno Pelizzari, an Italian, and South African Debbie Calitz, who were taken by Somali pirates in 2010 and released in 2012.
The document marked “secret” says the Italian intelligence agency AISE paid a ransom of US$525,000.
“To conceal the payment of the ransom, AISE, SNSA [Somalia’s national security agency] and the hostages agreed to inform the media and public that the release of the hostages was the result of a successful rescue operation by the Somali security forces.”
The document highlights the contradictions in the international response to kidnapping. Both the US and UK governments refuse to pay ransoms, but other European countries have a more ambiguous approach, routinely making payments while publicly denying it.
The Italian government response to the case of Pelizzari and Calitz reflects the confusion and obfuscation. Instead of acknowledging that a ransom had been paid or simply refusing to comment, it deliberately sought to mislead.
