Background
She is the daughter of Hans Melchers, a wealthy Dutch businessman.
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Claudia Melchers
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On September 12, 2005, a group of three armed South-American men broke into her home in Amsterdam, tied her and packed her into a plastic crate, and then forced her into a waiting vehicle. The abductors took Melchers to a bungalowpark in the eastern part of the Netherlands. She was held captive in one of the bungalows.
After the case got so much media attention, Melchers was dropped off unharmed at the Arnhem train station within 48 hours.
Number reason was given for her release, and it is unclear whether a ransom was paid. The abductors reportedly demanded 660 pounds of cocaine.
After the release of this fact, several Dutch Radioand Television stations speculated that the reason for the kidnapping was an error with a drug deal, and that the abductors were in quick need of cocaine. The stations claimed that they got their information from the police.
The above mentioned media also speculated that Melchers" family is involved in the drug scene.
Melchers" father - Hans Melchers - denied any of these connections and announced that he is going to sue several newspapers and television programs that launched this rumor. Hans Melchers is also the 36th richest person of The Netherlands. The estimation of his wealth is 460 million euro.
Lorenzo M., one of the alleged abductors of Melchers, was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2007.
Three others involved earlier received prison sentences from 2 to 6 years. Other famous kidnappings in the Netherlands similar to the Claudia Melchers case are:
Valerie Albada Jelgersma (1987)
Hans van de Kimmenade (1999)
Reinier Terwindt (2003).
