A 29-year-old Bitcoin holder was robbed and killed after locals found out about his BTC possession.
A bitcoin holder has been kidnapped and murdered, with the suspects allegedly stealing nearly 3 bitcoins (BTC) worth approximately $170,000.
According to a report from the National Police of Ukraine, the incident occurred at midnight when residents of a house in Solomyansk district heard screams and saw several unidentified men beating and forcefully dragging a man into a car.
Victim Forced to Transfer Bitcoin Before Murder
Following the report, a special police operation was immediately launched to search for the suspects. Another group of police was directed to where the crime occurred.
The combined efforts of police units and investigators from the Main and Solomianskyi departments resulted in the identification and arrest of the four suspects.
The police explained that the detainees had planned for the operation before the incident occurred, knowing that the victim had BTC in his possession.
According to the police, the men traced the victim’s home address and waited until he returned from work; the victim was roughly handled and brutally beaten.
The report revealed that the victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, was taken to an abandoned building in Kyiv region, where he was forced to transfer his bitcoin to their crypto wallet. After securing the transfer, the men strangled the victim and buried him in the forest.
The men converted the bitcoin to cash. To cover their tracks, the suspects changed the number plate and appearance of the car.
A Life Imprisonment Crime
The KORD special unit successfully apprehended the suspects in cooperation with other law enforcement officers. During the investigation, authorities confiscated the suspects’ money, a vehicle, and other physical evidence.
The men are currently facing grave charges under the Ukrainian Criminal Code, including deliberate murder for financial gain, robbery, unlawful detention by an organized group, and concealing a crime.
All suspects were formally charged with the alleged crimes and have been remanded in custody by the court without the option of bail. They are facing potential life imprisonment.