Missing football club chief freed, wife taken hostage
Sunday, 13 July 2008
SOFIA, July 12 (AFP): The missing president of Bulgaria's Litex Lovech football club, Angel Bonchev, was freed Friday but his his wife was taken hostage by his kidnappers while paying part of his ransom, the interior ministry said.
Bonchev, 47, who disappeared on May 22 while parking his car, was found "in a helpless condition and with no identity documents" in a Sofia neighbourhood and hospitalised "with grave mental disorder," the ministry said in a statement.
Interior Minister Mihail Mikov also told the national television late Friday that Bonchev's wife was taken hostage while trying to free him.
"His wife was captured while delivering money to his kidnappers," Mikov said.
Police have so far refused to confirm reports that Bonchev was kidnapped.
They also did not specify Friday if the kidnappers had now demanded a ransom for his wife.
But the national television reported that they wanted 3 million leva (1.5 million euros) to free him and were now requesting 2 million leva (one million euros) for his wife.
Bonchev, 47, who disappeared on May 22 while parking his car, was found "in a helpless condition and with no identity documents" in a Sofia neighbourhood and hospitalised "with grave mental disorder," the ministry said in a statement.
Interior Minister Mihail Mikov also told the national television late Friday that Bonchev's wife was taken hostage while trying to free him.
"His wife was captured while delivering money to his kidnappers," Mikov said.
Police have so far refused to confirm reports that Bonchev was kidnapped.
They also did not specify Friday if the kidnappers had now demanded a ransom for his wife.
But the national television reported that they wanted 3 million leva (1.5 million euros) to free him and were now requesting 2 million leva (one million euros) for his wife.