Kidnapped Men Escape With Rebel Deserter
COLOMBIA
An Italian businessman and a Venezuelan veterinarian escaped from guerrilla kidnappers in Colombia after five months in captivity, led to freedom by an unidentified rebel deserter, officials said.
An official at the Italian Embassy in Bogota identified the escaped Italian as Gabriele Giusto, 62. The Venezuelan, Santiago Borsotti, was said to be his friend.
Police said the two were abducted in neighboring Venezuela in December by common criminals and then passed on to Colombia’s main rebel group--the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which was demanding a $1-million ransom.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
