Investigators into last summer’s hijacking of the cargo vessel, the Arctic Sea are looking into the possibility that the act of piracy may be linked with the business activities of the Finnish company that owns the vessel.
According to a news report on the commercial television channel Nelonen on Sunday, the dominant theory in the international investigation into the hijacking is that the main target of the pirates was Viktor Matvejev, the CEO of the company that owns the ship.
According to the news report, Matvejev’s business activities and other connections are being examined for a possible motive, The hijackers had demanded a ransom of EUR 1.5 million before the seizure was ended by Russian forces.
The head of the investigation, Rabbe von Hertzen of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), confirmed on Sunday to Helsingin Sanomat that the theory has gained strength as the investigation has continued, but other angles have also been pursued.
Rabbe von Hertzen would not say what kinds of contacts Matvejev might have had with the hijackers. Matvejev himself is not under suspicion of any crime.
The NBI is investigating the case as one of aggravated blackmail. Finnish investigators were in Russia again last week interrogating the suspected hijackers.
The Arctic Sea was hijacked in the Baltic Sea in July last year after sailing from the Finnish port of Pietarsaari. It was found in August near Cape Verde.
The eight suspected pirates are in custody in Moscow.
