SECRET
state security
State Security Agency
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

MEMO
To

DEPUTY DIRECTOR COLLECTION

From

GENERAL MANAGER HORN & NORTH OF AFRICA

Date

6 July 2012

Reference SSA FB/NF10/IN/IC/OR
MEETING WITH RSA HOSTAGES: DEBBIE CALITZ AND BRUNO PELIZZARI:
DIRCO: 3 JULY 2012
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Italian Intelligence Service (AISE) secured the release of the RSA hostages
Bruno PELIZZARI and Debbie CALITZ through a carefully planned and executed
operation in cooperation with the Somalia National Security Agency (SNSA) on
21 June 2012. In a clandestine manner AISE co-opted the witting services of
Vera HECHT (sister of PELIZZARI) and Abdulhakim MOHAMED (Chairperson of
Somalia Community Board in the RSA) to negotiate a ransom during the period
February to June 2012. AISE paid a ransom to the amount of USD 525 000.00
(Five Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand) to a pirate militia group that kept the
hostages in custody for more than twenty months in South Central Somalia. The
family of the hostages did not contribute to the ransom. The pirate militia group
could move freely between areas in South Central Somalia and Mogadishu that
were under both the control of insurgents and the Transitional Federal
Government (TFG). There is a great probability that the identities of the pirate
militia and their negotiator are known to the SNSA. To conceal the payment of
the ransom, AISE, SNSA and the hostages agreed to inform the media and
public that the release of the hostages was the result of a successful rescue
operation by the Somali Security Forces.
COMMENTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SSA
It is evident that the involvement of AISE in the negotiations was instrumental in
securing the release of the hostages. AISE followed the case of the RSA
hostages and was aware of every minor detail necessary to secure the release of
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MEETING WITH RSA HOSTAGES: DEBBIE CALITZ AND BRUNO PELIZZARI:
DIRCO: 3 JULY 2012
the hostages. Despite several promises to co-operate and share information with
the SSA, AISE elected not to disclose any information about the extent of its
involvement. The position not to disclose any information to the SSA was also
maintained when AISE met with a SSA representative on the 22 June 2012.

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MEETING WITH RSA HOSTAGES: DEBBIE CALITZ AND BRUNO PELIZZARI:
DIRCO: 3 JULY 2012
1.

AIM
To provide feedback re discussions that were held with the two RSA
hostages and a member of their family on 3 July 2012.

2.

INVOLVEMENT OF AISE IN THE RELEASE OF THE RSA HOSTAGES
HECHT was debriefed to determine the extent of the involvement of the
AISE and MOHAMED in the release of the hostages on 21 June 2012.
HECHT disclosed that that she was contacted by an Italian on Facebook
in February 2012 with a request that she communicates with him on her
negotiations with the Somali’s re the release of “Debbie and Bruno”. The
Italian only identified himself as “Marco” and suggested that they should
communicate via Skype for security reasons.
“Marco” advised her not to disclose their relationship to her family or to
the RSA authorities. He also advised HECHT to purchase a new cell
phone and a simcard to use for communication with him, the Somali
negotiator and MOHAMED. He also advised her to utilise the services of
MOHAMED in her communication and negotiations with the Somali
negotiator. HECHT also created a “g-mail” account which “Marco” and
MOHAMED enjoyed access to. The procedure wrt the g-mail address was
for all three parties to post unsent draft messages to the g-mail address.
The g-mail address was used to access messages and to respond to it.
Marco also advised HECHT to inform the Somali negotiator that the Italian
family of PELIZZARI had managed to sell property in Italy and that she
was able to negotiate a ransom. She was informed that the Italian
Government would be willing to pay up to USD 900 000.00 (Nine Hundred
Thousand) for the release of the hostages.
Adam FABIYO, a new Somali negotiator, made contact with HECHT via
Facebook on 6 April 2012. A mobile number was provided in the
Facebook message and on advice of “Marco” HECHT started new
negotiations with FABIYO. MOHAMED travelled to Mogadishu, Somalia

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MEETING WITH RSA HOSTAGES: DEBBIE CALITZ AND BRUNO PELIZZARI:
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during April 2012 to assist HECHT with her negotiations. Proof of life wrt
the RSA hostages was provided during May 2012. An agreement on the
payment of a ransom of USD500 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand) was
reached in early June 2012. FABIYO also presented HECHT with a bill for
services of a Mogadishu based consultancy that facilitated the proof of life
to the amount of USD25 000.00 (Twenty Five Thousand). “Marco” agreed
to the ransom amount and requested HECHT to travel to Nairobi, Kenya
with the USD100 000.00 (Hundred Thousand) that were collected by the
family.
Due to concerns about the credibility of “Marco”, the risk of travelling to
Kenya and handing over the USD100 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand),
HECHT decided to consult with the Italian Consulate in the RSA. Staff of
the Italian Consulate were not aware of the Italian Government’s
involvement and did not know about “Marco”. “Marco” contacted HECHT
within an hour of her meeting at the Italian Consulate. He informed her
that it was no longer necessary to take USD100 000.00 (One Hundred
Thousand) to Nairobi.
HECHT travelled to Nairobi on 20 June 2012. She was met by a male
diplomat from the Italian Embassy in the international “arrivals and
transfer hall” and escorted through customs. She was taken to a
residence and informed that the RSA hostages were due to be released
on 21 June 2012. She was also informed that she would travel to Djibouti
to meet the hostages on 21 June 2012.
HECHT, escorted by the Italian diplomat, travelled on a commercial flight
to Djibouti on 21 June 2012. Within twenty minutes of their arrival, a
private Lear Jet landed with “Marco”, the hostages and Italian government
officials. HECHT joined the passengers and the private jet immediately
departed for Italy and arrived in Rome on 22 June 2012. Italian
government officials and the RSA Charge Affairs of the RSA Embassy in
Italy met them on arrival. HECHT and the hostages were instructed by the
Italian officials not to disclose that a ransom was paid, but to rather inform

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MEETING WITH RSA HOSTAGES: DEBBIE CALITZ AND BRUNO PELIZZARI:
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the media that the TFG forces of Somalia rescued them. “Marco” also
requested HECHT to inform the media that MOHAMED played a
significant role in the rescue of the hostages.
HECHT disclosed that MOHAMED was paid an amount of ZAR30 000
(Thirty Thousand) for his expenditure and services he rendered during
negotiations for the release of the RSA hostages.
3.

RSA Hostages: Place of Captivity, Identity of Capturers and Release
Bruno PELIZZARI disclosed the following information re the abovementioned topics:
Place of Captivity: Two elderly Somalis took custody of the two hostages
when they went ashore after the pirates beached the yacht they were
travelling in during November 2010. The pirates immediately left in a
southerly direction towards Lamu while the hostages and their escorts
made their way in a northerly direction towards Kismayo.
Mogadishu: PELIZZARI believes that they were kept in Mogadishu after
travelling past Kismayo, Barawe and Merca.

Although they were

blindfolded when travelling and kept behind closed doors, handcuffed and
in dark rooms, they could hear the sounds of traffic and people passing
by. PELIZZARI also heard the noises of planes landing and departing at
short intervals. This to him was an indication that they were near a busy
airport. They were moved frequently during their captivity. He is also of
the opinion that one of the places that they were held was in or close to a
mosque. This notion is based on hearing praying and singing of Muslims
on regular times during the day. They were also guarded by young Somali
militias that consisted of groups of six at a time. The guards were also
regularly changed. He described the guards as very disciplined and
religious. The guards wore civilian clothing inside the house but changed
into military uniform when they had to travel somewhere. Most or the
travelling took place when they had move to a new place of captivity or

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MEETING WITH RSA HOSTAGES: DEBBIE CALITZ AND BRUNO PELIZZARI:
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when it was required to make a phone call. They were involved in a car
accident during one of their travels and were taken to a clinic for
treatment in Mogadishu. A Somali visited them once a week to enquire
about their health and to provide them with medical treatment if required.
At some stage, they were treated for Malaria and issued with a certificate
indicating that it was issued by a clinic in Baaidihabo.
PELIZZARI was aware of another foreigner kept in a room adjacent to
theirs. Though there was little contact between them, he could establish
that the hostage was French speaking. He introduced himself as “Danny”
and disclosed that he was working on a tunnel in Somalia before he was
kidnapped. The foreigner received treatment for a bad head wound by
the visiting Somali doctor.
Identity of Capturers: There was very little communication between the
hostages and their capturers. On a few occasions, they were required to
answer proof of life questions on a piece of paper. On two occasions, they
were allowed to speak to HECHT on a cell phone but were given strict
instructions to what they could say. They were taken to a different location
for the telephone conversations with HECHT.
Release of the Hostages:
On more than one occasion, the hostages were informed that they were
due to be released. When they were notified on 20 June 2012 that their
release was eminent, they travelled for six and half hours in an SUV in a
south–easterly direction. Other vehicles escorted their SUV with militias
mounted at the back. For the first leg of their journey they were
blindfolded. They passed various checkpoints and at some of these check
points they were allowed to proceed without stopping while at others the
driver had either to negotiate or make a phone call. After passing one of
the checkpoints, the driver told then to remove their blindfolds and
announced to them that they were free. The driver introduced himself as
Adam FABIYO. He then made a phone call and allowed the hostages to
speak to “Marco” who confirmed to them that they were to be released.
FABIYO also informed them that they were in “no-man’s land” and that

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MEETING WITH RSA HOSTAGES: DEBBIE CALITZ AND BRUNO PELIZZARI:
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they had to pass one checkpoint before they would be safe. The escort
vehicle was stopped at the final checkpoint, but FABIYO was allowed to
proceed to Mogadishu.
A short while later members of the TFG Security Forces and Italian
Government officials met the hostages. They were taken to a Hotel in
Mogadishu. The following morning they were taken to Villa Somalia where
a conference was held and they were formally handed over to the Italian
Officials.

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