A Belgian court sentenced three people for their role in an abduction linked to the cryptocurrency targeting the wife of the local crypto entrepreneur Stéphane Winkel.
The Brussels Criminal Tribunal pronounced 12 -year -old prison sentences to three kidnappers who attacked Winkel’s wife in December 2024, the local news agency reported on Thursday.
The criminals were found guilty of hostage taking after removing the victim outside his home, forcing him to in a van and demanding a ransom of cryptocurrency.
Alerted by Winkel, the police continued the van and then arrested the captors and released the victim after withdrawing the road vehicle with a risky maneuver.
Kidnapping masterminds still in freedom
In addition to prison terms, the court ordered the three convicts sentenced to pay at least 1 million euros ($ 1.2 million) in civilian damages to the victim
While holding the responsible trio, the court recognized that the brains behind the removal remain unidentified. He also rejected the allegations of the defendants that they were forced to crime under the threat of death.
According to the report, the case also involves a minor, who is treated separately by a tribunal for minors.
Winkel Crypto Companies Impact
Winkel, a well -known cryptography investor and coach, manages educational platforms such as crypto acacdémie and crypto sun. His YouTube channel has around 40,000 subscribers and offers free advice to those interested in cryptocurrency.
Although Winkel and his wife received urgent help from the application of laws, the test has profoundly traumatized them and would have forced them to move.
“I consider myself a defender of freedom, but I realize now that security must become an absolute priority for me and those around me,” Winkel wrote in an X Post in January.
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The entrepreneur also undertook to continue to produce content, but with a safer approach, declaring:
“More competitions or portfolio demonstrations, rather focusing on education, simplification and market analysis. I will share my experience to help others avoid such situations. ”
Winkel returned to YouTube at the end of June, downloading his first video since the removal. Unlike past videos, the new format presents a narration of voiceover only, without appearance to the camera.
Alarming growing trend
Winkel’s story is yet another example of an alarming increase in the kidnappings linked to crypto in the world, highlighting the risks faced by cryptographic investors who maintain public profiles.
In mid-June, another crypto kidnapping took place in France, the kidnapped authors of a 23-year-old man and demanding that his partner pay 5,000 euros ($ 5,764) in cash, as well as his private key to a book portfolio.
In another high-level case in May, three men tried to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Norizat, co-founder and CEO of Crypto Exchange Paymium.
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