Kyiv police have arrested four men, aged between 24 and 29, for the kidnapping and murder of a 29-year-old foreigner.
The crime was motivated by the motive of stealing about 3 bitcoins (BTC), valued at approximately seven million hryvnias ($170,000).
Details of The Abduction and Murder
According to a report from the National Police of Ukraine, the incident unfolded around midnight when residents of a building in the Solomianskyi district heard screams and witnessed several men beating and dragging another person into a car . The victim, whose identity has not been released, was a known cryptocurrency holder.
Following the report, a large-scale police operation was launched in Kyiv and the surrounding regions to track down and arrest the suspects. The efforts of all police units and officers from the Main and Solomianskyi police departments led to the identification and arrest of the four men involved in the crime.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had planned the kidnapping after discovering the victim’s significant bitcoin holdings. They followed him to his home and attacked him as he returned around midnight.
The assailants forcibly took the victim to a deserted structure in the Kyiv region, where they forced him to transfer his bitcoin to their crypto wallet. After securing the transfer, the suspects strangled the victim.
To cover their tracks, the perpetrators changed the license plates and appearance of the car, buried the body in a forest and converted the stolen cryptocurrency into cash. However, his efforts to escape were thwarted by the swift and coordinated response of Kiev law enforcement.
Suspects Arrested in Bitcoin-Motivated Murder
The KORD special unit, along with other law enforcement officers, successfully apprehended the suspects. During the operation, the police seized money, the vehicle used in the crime and other crucial evidence.
The suspects now face serious charges under the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including intentional murder for selfish reasons, robbery, unlawful deprivation of liberty committed by an organized group and concealment of a crime.
All those arrested have been informed of their suspicion of having committed these crimes, and the court has remanded them in custody without the possibility of bail. They face life in prison if convicted.
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