QUOTE
BERLIN (Reuters) - Part of the ransom money alleged to have been paid by the German government to win the freedom of Iraq hostage Susanne Osthoff last month was found on Osthoff after her release, the German magazine Focus said on Saturday.
Without citing its sources, Focus said officials at the German embassy in Baghdad had found several thousand U.S. dollars in the 43-year-old German archaeologist’s clothes when she took a shower at the embassy shortly after being freed.
The serial numbers on the bills matched those used by the government to pay off Osthoff’s kidnappers, the magazine said.
Efforts to contact Osthoff for comment through her mother and a friend failed.
Without citing its sources, Focus said officials at the German embassy in Baghdad had found several thousand U.S. dollars in the 43-year-old German archaeologist’s clothes when she took a shower at the embassy shortly after being freed.
The serial numbers on the bills matched those used by the government to pay off Osthoff’s kidnappers, the magazine said.
Efforts to contact Osthoff for comment through her mother and a friend failed.
I Thought "the west" had a deal on not paying ransoms or making deals with terrorists?
Is this just a bit of SPIESEN / traveling compentsation for ms Osthoff
for services renderd??
Lesson learnt, always take traveller cheques! (easier to hide)
