Five accused over programmer’s kidnapping and bitcoin theft in Ivanovo
A programmer was allegedly robbed of cash and bitcoin after hours of violence. Kommersant reports that five men are accused; investigators put the loss above 84 million roubles.
Five men are under investigation in Russia’s Ivanovo over the alleged kidnapping and assault of a young programmer to obtain his money and cryptocurrency-wallet credentials. Kommersant reported the case on 1 November. According to the investigative account described by the newspaper, the victim was seized while going to a shop on 6 September. The accused allegedly took him handcuffed to a garage, where he was beaten and threatened for about five hours.
The attackers allegedly took one million roubles in cash, a phone and a laptop. More than 10.39 bitcoin were reportedly transferred from his wallets in four transactions. The victim was then left in a forest with his hands tied, according to the report. The newspaper says the five face accusations of kidnapping and violent robbery, with total losses exceeding 84 million roubles. Regional prosecutors supervise the investigation, which also examines possible involvement in similar offences.
