Australian Woman Organizes Kidnapping of Saudi Royal Family Member for Bitcoin
Date: 2024-12-17 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: IN WORLD
In Australia, 24-year-old Katherine Kolivas kidnapped a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family, demanding a ransom of $40,000 in bitcoins. The incident occurred after the victim met the criminal through a dating app.
According to court documents, Kolivas did not act alone - three accomplices helped to implement the plan. After meeting with a crypto trader, the woman offered to walk her home, where his accomplices were already waiting for him. There, the man was beaten, tied up with plastic zip ties and threatened with cruel reprisals, including cutting off his fingers with a knife.
Under threats, the kidnapped man, who turned out to be a crypto trader, agreed to transfer $40,000 in bitcoins through a friend. In addition to the ransom, the criminals took the victim's house keys and stole expensive items, including designer clothing, a PlayStation 5, and several iPhones.
After receiving the ransom and completing the robbery, the criminals released the victim. The man immediately contacted the police and was taken to hospital with wounds to his head and wrists.
At the trial, Katherine Kolivas pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including kidnapping, extortion, causing actual bodily harm, theft, and possession of a weapon. Under Australian law, she faced up to 25 years in prison. However, the judge showed leniency and sentenced her to only 30 months of community service.
The court justified this decision by citing "exceptional circumstances" that freed Kolivas from prison. These reasons included the defendant's young age, difficult childhood, mental health issues, prospects for rehabilitation, and emotional shock due to the death of her brother during the trial.
Kolivas' accomplices also avoided prison terms, having officially apologized to the victim and expressed regret for what they had done.
It is worth noting that cases of extortion of cryptocurrencies have recently become more frequent. Thus, in November, unknown persons kidnapped the CEO of the Canadian company WonderFi Dean Skurka, demanding $1 million from him.
