Somali pirates holding British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler hostage are only demanding to be paid expenses.

Somalia: Pirates demand to paid expense for British couple


26 Feb 26, 2010 - 2:10:32 AM


According to their spokesman, the couple is in dire need of medication but could only be freed when the captors receive money to their expenses.
“We can’t free the couple because we incurred a lot of expense while holding them, we want to be paid back,” said a spokesman who requested not to be named.

He however expressed fear that the health situation of Mrs Chandler has deteriorated and wants urgent medical assistance.
“Mrs Chandler health condition has deteriorated due to malnutrition. She can’t even walk for a minute. She needs urgent medication,” he claimed.

The couple, Paul Chandler and his wife Rachel, was vacationing in the Indian Ocean in the middle of the piracy peak season, when their 38-foot yacht, Lynn Rival, came under pirate attack in October 23. Their empty yacht was later located in the international waters off Somalia.

Their captors have threatened to kill the couple if their demands for $7m (£4.4m) are not met.

Somalis, especially those in the UK have been in the fore front to campaign for the release of the couple.