Édouard-Jean Empain

Baron Édouard -Jean Empain ( born October 7, 1937) is a Belgian entrepreneur and businessman. He was from 1971 to 1981 CEO of Empain - Schneider Group. He gained notoriety as the victim of a kidnapping.

Baron Empain was kidnapped on January 23, 1978 in front of his home in the Avenue Foch in the 16th arrondissement of Paris by a gang of criminals. His kidnappers demanded a ransom of 80 million francs (later reduced to 40 million francs ). To substantiate their claim, they cut off Empain the little finger of the left hand and sent him to the family. Empain was forced almost the entire duration of the abduction to lie in an orange camping tent, which was located in the basement of a condemned house in Savigny -sur -Orge. After the arrest of some of the Bande Empain was released on 28 March 1978 in the vicinity of a metro station in the south of Paris.

The trial of the kidnappers took place in December 1982. They received prison sentences of between 15 and 20 years ..

Empain reported that after his release, only his Labrador was pleased with his return. His family and business associates had already written him off. The relationship between them and Empain deteriorated such that Empain all bridges behind him broke off and started a new life.

After the abduction

In 1981 Empain sold his shares in Empain - Schneider Group. In 2003, he was charged with an alleged fraudulent bankruptcy of the company SNC - Empain Graham in 1998, but acquitted.