(1) Whosoever abducts or gains physical control of a person in order to exploit, for the purpose of blackmail (section 253), the victim’s concern for his own welfare or the concern of a third person for the welfare of the victim, and whosoever for the purpose of blackmail exploits a person’s situation thus caused by him shall be liable to imprisonment of not less than five years.

(2) In less serious cases the penalty shall be imprisonment of not less than one year.

(3) If by the offence the offender at least through gross negligence causes the death of the victim the penalty shall be imprisonment for life or not less than ten years.

(4) The court may mitigate the sentence pursuant to section 49(1) if the offender allows the victim to return to his normal surroundings and waives the desired outcome. If this occurs regardless of the contribution of the offender his earnest efforts to achieve that result shall suffice.