A 29-year-old Bitcoiner was kidnapped and strangled to death by four attackers in Kyiv, Ukraine. They allegedly stole around $200,000 worth of BTC from the foreign national.
The attackers — aged 24 to 29 — are currently in custody for premeditating and executing the abduction of the foreigner and stealing 3 BTC.
Specifically, they took the victim to an abandoned building and forced him to transfer BTC to their crypto wallet.
They subsequently converted the stolen funds into stacks of USD and euros. After the attackers murdered the man, they buried his body in the forest.
To cover up the crime, the number plate and appearance of the car were changed.
Neighborhood residents heard screams and noticed several unknown people “beating and forcing” a man into a car. They, in turn, cautioned the police around midnight.
According to the translated version of the official statement,
“The police established that the perpetrators were preparing for the crime in advance. They found out that the man has Bitcoins and decided to take possession of them.”
During the investigation, the police seized money, a car, and other material evidence from the attackers.
Kyiv police investigators are investigating criminal proceedings initiated under four articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine revolving around deliberate murder, robbery attack, crime concealment, and illegal deprivation of liberty. The attackers are likely to face life imprisonment sentences.
Perpetrators have been increasingly targeting crypto investors of late. For instance, a federal jury in North Carolina convicted a Florida resident last month for his role in an international conspiracy to break into US citizens’ homes, violently kidnap and assault them, and steal their Bitcoin and other crypto assets.
Between September 2022 and July 2023, the attacker helped plan and orchestrate a “series of robberies” in Durham, North Carolina; Florida; Texas; and New York. Victims of his home invasions were kidnapped in their own homes and asked to drain their crypto accounts.
