During his time as Chargé d'affaires in Kuala Lumpur in 1975, Bergenstråhle was held hostage for over 80 hours by the Japanese Red Army but was released unharmed.
Under sin tid som chargé d’affaires i Kuala Lumpur 1975 togs Bergenstråhle som gisslan under drygt 80 timmar av Japanska röda armén men släpptes oskadd.