Three and a half months after the kidnapping against ransom of the co -founder of Ledger, the cryptocurrency midfielder continues to attract criminals. The father of a man who made a fortune in digital currencies was released on Saturday May 3 evening, during a police assault, two days after his abduction in the heart of Paris. “During this intervention, four individuals were arrested” And “Placed in police custody”said the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The man was kidnapped Thursday around 10:30 am in the 14the District, according to the prosecution. According to a police source, the action had been carried out in front of witnesses by four hooded men who had taken him aboard a delivery van.
“The victim turned out to be the father of a man who made a fortune in the cryptocurrencies, the facts being accompanied by a ransom application”underlined the prosecution, without specifying the amount. After The Parisian,, “The criminals would have claimed between 5 to 7 million euros in the form of transfers in exchange for his release”. A source close to the file told the France-Presse (AFP) agency that a sum “Very high” had been claimed by the captors but had not been paid.
An “extraordinary investigation”
THE “Many investigations” conducted allowed the release on Saturday around 9 p.m. “The victim chosen in a accommodation located in Essonne”announced the prosecution. Injured, the man was taken care of by the emergency services, it was added from the same source, without specifying the nature of his injuries. According to the source close to the file, the man had a cut finger.
The hostage was released during an assault on the research and intervention brigade (BRI) in the pavilion where the man was kidnapped, reported the near source. The place where he was selected was located thanks to a “Outstanding survey”,, “Anthology”underlined this source, adding that “Other mutilations were to be feared” If the police had not intervened.
“A huge congratulations to investigators who have done exceptional work to release this man and to challenge his captors”reacted, on X, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, greeting the“Decisive commitment” From the prefect of police, Laurent Nuñez, and his workforce.
The victim’s wife, heard by the police, said that her husband and her son, who have a marketing company managing Cryptomone in Malta, had been the subject of threats in the past, according to the police source.
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An investigation was opened for arrest, kidnapping, sequestration and arbitrary hostage to obtain the execution of an order or a condition, extortion with a weapon, all in an organized gang, and participation in an association of criminal criminals. The Brigade for the repression of banditry (BRB) and the judicial police are responsible for investigations. According to the source close to the investigation, the cybercrime (BL2 C) and the BRI was also mobilized in this survey.
Several kidnappings with similar methods
This abduction followed by sequestration with ransom request in cryptocurrency comes just over three months after the abductor of the co -founder of Ledger, a company specializing in cryptoactives. On January 21, in the early morning, David Balland and his partner had been kidnapped at their home in Méreau (Cher). The alert had been given by Eric Larchevêque, co -founder of Ledger, who had received a video of a cut finger from David Balland, accompanied by a major ransom request in cryptocurrency.
Releasing in Châteauroux, David Balland was released on January 22. His partner was found tied up in the trunk of a vehicle in Essonne the next day. At least nine suspects have been indicted in this case, including the alleged sponsor of this abduction.
In addition, in early January, a 56 -year -old man was found in the trunk of a car near Le Mans, several hundred kilometers from his home located in the Ain. According to several media, it was the father of an influencer in cryptocurrencies based in Dubai, who regularly publishes videos on his earnings, and a ransom request had been made.