29 Oct 2010 / 11:59
Kidnapping for ransom is a growing trend in Kosovo, while the number of businesses seeking protection for their properties has also increased, Balkan Insight can reveal.
Kidnapping for ransom is a growing trend in Kosovo, while the number of businesses seeking protection for their properties has also increased, Balkan Insight can reveal.
Petrit Collaku
Since July, a series of high profile cases of kidnapping for ransom have emerged, police say. Up until October this year, police have noted 31 cases registered as kidnappings, out of which four were for ransom and the rest involve grabbing someone's bag in the street. In 2009 the total number was 38, according to police. The latest case involves an elderly millionaire from western Kosovo who was taken from his car on the main Pristina to Peja highway, not far from his house, on September 22, a source in the Kosovo police told Balkan Insight.
The source explained that the family of the 80-year-old man has received phone calls from his kidnappers who have demanded millions of euros in ransom.The police report shows that six persons have so far been arrested in connection with the kidnapping. Four are former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, one is a member of the Kosovo police and the last is wanted by Interpol on unrelated charges.The investigations are ongoing and an additional three persons have been identified as suspects, though they are still at large, according to the police source.Since July, several other cases point to a worrying trend.In October, police arrested a person who threatened five businessmen via mobile phone in the town of Ferizaj, asking them to pay sums ranging from €15,000 to 40,000.In July, police arrested six people in Pristina for the kidnapping of two people. The kidnappers had demanded €180,000 for the release of the six. And on August 7, a 14-year-old boy, the son of a businessman from Mitrovica, was kidnapped by two unknown persons and ended up in Austria. He was sent back home after several days.The biggest private security company in Kosovo, Balkan International, told Balkan Insight that in recent months it has seen an increase in requests from businessmen to better secure their properties.Besnik Berisha, owner of the company, said that when it comes to bodyguard protection, the businessmen still usually employ family members.Ramadan Qehaja, head of Pristina's Centre for Security Studies, said that the kidnappings should be a top political priority in Kosovo as the trend is becoming a "major concern for Kosovo society"."The economic crisis, huge unemployment, and extreme poverty can lead individuals and groups of individuals to try to benefit through terrible acts such as kidnappings," Qehaja said.Qehaja added that the situation may change after Kosovo's intelligence service and other security institutions begin to function properly.In the aftermath of NATO's intervention in Kosovo, kidnappings for ransom became commonplace but as security improved, the crime slowly faded away.
Since July, a series of high profile cases of kidnapping for ransom have emerged, police say. Up until October this year, police have noted 31 cases registered as kidnappings, out of which four were for ransom and the rest involve grabbing someone's bag in the street. In 2009 the total number was 38, according to police. The latest case involves an elderly millionaire from western Kosovo who was taken from his car on the main Pristina to Peja highway, not far from his house, on September 22, a source in the Kosovo police told Balkan Insight.
The source explained that the family of the 80-year-old man has received phone calls from his kidnappers who have demanded millions of euros in ransom.The police report shows that six persons have so far been arrested in connection with the kidnapping. Four are former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, one is a member of the Kosovo police and the last is wanted by Interpol on unrelated charges.The investigations are ongoing and an additional three persons have been identified as suspects, though they are still at large, according to the police source.Since July, several other cases point to a worrying trend.In October, police arrested a person who threatened five businessmen via mobile phone in the town of Ferizaj, asking them to pay sums ranging from €15,000 to 40,000.In July, police arrested six people in Pristina for the kidnapping of two people. The kidnappers had demanded €180,000 for the release of the six. And on August 7, a 14-year-old boy, the son of a businessman from Mitrovica, was kidnapped by two unknown persons and ended up in Austria. He was sent back home after several days.The biggest private security company in Kosovo, Balkan International, told Balkan Insight that in recent months it has seen an increase in requests from businessmen to better secure their properties.Besnik Berisha, owner of the company, said that when it comes to bodyguard protection, the businessmen still usually employ family members.Ramadan Qehaja, head of Pristina's Centre for Security Studies, said that the kidnappings should be a top political priority in Kosovo as the trend is becoming a "major concern for Kosovo society"."The economic crisis, huge unemployment, and extreme poverty can lead individuals and groups of individuals to try to benefit through terrible acts such as kidnappings," Qehaja said.Qehaja added that the situation may change after Kosovo's intelligence service and other security institutions begin to function properly.In the aftermath of NATO's intervention in Kosovo, kidnappings for ransom became commonplace but as security improved, the crime slowly faded away.
balkan insight
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