British police on Wednesday
arrested the brother of the alleged kidnapper of a British model
abducted in Milan and reportedly set to be sold as a sex slave
in the Middle East.
Michal Konrad Herba, 36, brother of Lucasz Herba, 30, was
arrested at Tividale in the West Midlands, near Birmingham where
his brother lived.
The elder brother, who was caught in an Interpol operation,
is charged with assisting in the kidnapping of Chloe Ayling.
Ayling has said she feared she would be murdered after being
kidnapped in Milan last month and put on an online auction for
bidders willing to pay to have sex with her.
The model was attacked, drugged and closed in a suitcase
after being lured to the northern Italian city for a fake photo
shoot.
Suspected kidnapper Herba, a Polish national residing in
Britain, allegedly advertised the the woman online via the deep
web, while at the same time demanding ransom from her agent.
"I went through a terrible experience," Ayling told State
broadcaster RAI.
"I feared for my life every minute. I'm infinitely grateful
to the Italian and British police for saving me. They worked
night and day to find me".
Herba was arrested on July 18, the day after he allegedly let
Ayling go, taking her to the British consulate in Milan.
The kidnapper may have let the woman go after discovering she
was unsuitable for the sex trade as she had a child, according
to reports.
Ayling's story was cast in doubt by some after reports she
had gone shoe shopping in Milan with Herba during her alleged
captivity.
Some suggested it was a publicity stunt.
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