Video ‘shows hostage was friends with kidnappers’
Lawyer: Client wanted debt repaid
THE lawyer for one of four people accused of kidnapping a British former public schoolboy says videos taken by his client prove the alleged victim was close with his captors.
Vando Scheggia said the accused only kept Sam Demilecamps, 25, locked up so he could repay debts he had accumulated.
Italian police found the ex-pupil of £36,000-a-year
Lord Wandsworth College, Hants, tied to a ladder in a flat in Monte San Giusto in central Italy last month.
His father Patrick received an alarming text message in which Sam said he had been tortured by “very dangerous people”.
The former Brighton pub chef said they wanted a £6,000 ransom.
Yesterday, Mr Scheggia, who represents Ahmed Rajraji, 21, said: “If this was a real kidnap they could have taken him in June and asked for €600,000.
“Yes, Mr Demilecamps was held against his will. But they treated him well. He said they made him eat scraps like a dog but he cooked for them.
“During the five to six days he was in the house he managed to get friends to send €1,500. When he realised he wasn’t going to get more, he thought he could escape. They put handcuffs on him.” Mr Scheggia said Mr Demilecamps spent June, July and August with the group. In videos seen by the Mirror, he is filmed at restaurants, the beach and a nightclub.
The lawyer said Mr Demilecamps said he would take his client to England. He said: “When Demilecamps said his credit card was blocked he lent him money, €6,700 from the group. Then he disappeared.”
Rajraji, Rubens Beliga Gnaga, 18, Dona Conte, 22, and Aurora Carpani, 20, have appeared in court on charges of “kidnapping for the purpose of extortion”, and are under house arrest.
If this was a real kidnap they could have asked for €600,000
VANDO SCHEGGIA LAWYER FOR ACCUSED