Captain Martin Galea, who was abducted by Libyan rebels on 17 July, was released today and has returned home to Malta unharmed.

The plane he was on landed at Malta International Airport at 8.40pm, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Addressing the media as soon as Captain Galea disembarked, Dr Muscat thanked all those involved in the operation, including Ministers George Vella and Manuel Mallia. The important thing was the health and safety of Captain Galea, he said.

Captain Galea said that his safety depended on the work of others, thanking in particular Marisa Farrugia who "literally saved my life".

The Maltese government had immediately established contact with the Libyan abductors, although the news of his kidnapping came to light on 25 July. He was abducted while on his way to work at a site managed by his employer, Arab Geophysical Exploration Services Company, on the outskirts of Tripoli. He was held in captivity for 11 days.

No money, nor any other valued objects was requested by the kidnappers for Mr Galea’s release, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirmed. The company he works for received a demand for money but the PM said that as far as he knew no money changed hands.

All throughout the day, when it became clear that the 42-year-old health and safety professional would be released, logistical plans were put in place so that he would be immediately brought back home to Malta.

Senior journalists were summoned to Castille twice during the course of the day to be updated with developments. Although the OPM allowed the media freedom to carry the updates, it was agreed that no reports are published due to the sensitivity of the situation.

Mario Cutajar, head of the civil service, thanked the media for their cooperation when interviewed on PBS this evening.

The first time the media were called to Castille was at 2.30pm when they were addressed by Head of the government crisis centre Mario Cutajar. The second time was at 6.45pm when they were addressed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Dr Muscat said that at 5.50pm, Galea was at the Maltese consulate in Tripoli together with Marisa Farrugia who is Malta’s honorary consul to the Libyan capital. Mr Galea then spoke to the PM and the head of Maltese security Michael Cassar, and left on his way to Mitiga airport for the flight to Malta.

While the PM was speaking to the media at 6.45pm, a Medavia plane landed at Mitiga airport with six AFM officers in plain clothes. Mr Galea had no documents on his person, and arrangements were made for his departure. Upon arrival, Mr Galea will be taken to hospital for a medical check-up.

Dr Muscat said that the contacts made by the Maltese government with the abductors were through several Libyan intermediaries.

When he was kidnapped, Mr Galea was with a Libyan driver and a Libyan colleague of his. Both were not taken by the kidnappers.

Dr Muscat said that the family of Mr Galea were only informed of his release when the airplane was in Maltese air space.

Earlier, Mr Cutajar had told journalists that the situation was very critical, and the Maltese government received help from certain unnamed people in Libya. When asked if the intermediary helping the government is Maltese or Libyan, no reply was given.

Mr Cutajar explained that the Maltese government did not work with the company he works for during the contacts made with the kidnappers.

Relatives of Captain Galea suspected something was wrong when Captain Galea did not send his daily SMS to his wife, which normally followed with a skype call. His wife never received a message on the day of his abduction. When contacted by his family, the firm he works for said that his whereabouts were unknown. 

Since then, there were frequent and frantic attempts to make contact with the kidnappers until today’s release.

Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil was seen entering the Prime Minister's office in Castille this afternoon. No details of the meeting were made available, but it is understood that Dr Busuttil was updated on developments pertaining to the situation in Libya.

The Nationalist Party issued a statement welcoming the satisfactory conclusion to this horrendous ordeal.

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-07-25/news/maltese-worker-abducted-by-libyan-rebel-militia-5968101377/

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-07-27/news/no-ransom-money-requested-for-abducted-maltese-worker-government-5983862788/