Kidnapped German Millionaire Released

A 43-year-old millionaire kidnapped from his home four weeks ago was released early Saturday, police said.

Jan Philipp Reemtsma, whose family made a fortune in the tobacco business, was freed 33 days after being kidnapped from his house in Hamburg. He had been held for $20 million ransom, which was paid Thursday, according to a report in Saturday’s Hamburger Morgen Post.

Police said that Reemtsma was in police custody. There was no immediate word on the identity of the kidnapper or kidnappers.

Police had imposed a news blackout on the case, saying that Reemtsma’s life in danger.

The publicity-shy Reemtsma sold his 53 percent share in his father’s tobacco business for $200 million when he was 27 to pursue his interests in literature and philanthropy.