TV boss tight-lipped on ransom

Published on Tuesday 21 October 2008 23:08

CHANNEL 4 chief executive Andy Duncan refused to say yesterday whether or not the broadcaster paid a £150,000 ransom for the release of a kidnapped documentary maker.

Freelance reporter Sean Langan was working for the Channel 4 programme Dispatches when he was kidnapped while on the border of Afghanistan and Pak istan. He spent three months in captivity before being freed in June.

Mr Duncan was questioned at a Channel 4 oral evidence session into its 2007 annual report before the culture, media and sport committee in Westminster. He was asked by Conservative MP Nigel Evans whether or not the channel had paid a 150,000 ransom.

Suggestions were made at the time of Mr Langan's release that money was paid to a Taleban-linked group.

Mr Duncan responded to the question by saying that conversations with Mr Langan's family and others involved were very sensitive and "we have made commitments not to talk about it".

He said: "Our main role was supporting the family."