The father of a cryptocurrency magnate removed in the heart of Paris covers freedom after a police assault

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 in the evening, during a police assault, two days after his abduction in the heart of Paris. Five people were arrested, said the Paris prosecutor’s office.

The man had been abducted on Thursday around 10:30 a.m. in the 14th^e District, according to the prosecution. According to a police source, the action had been carried out before 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 agency that a sum “Very high” had been claimed by the kidnappers, but that she had not been paid.

An “extraordinary investigation”

THE “Many investigations” carried out allowed the release, Saturday around 9 p.m., of “The victim, retained 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 a source close to the file, the man had a cut finger.

During this intervention, four suspects born in 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2005, “Were arrested, in or near the accommodation where the victim was kidnapped”said the prosecution. A fifth, born in 1999, “Was arrested behind the wheel of one of the vehicles probably used by criminals”he completed.

The hostage was released during an assault on the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI), 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.

An investigation was opened for arrest, kidnapping, forcibleness and arbitrary detention with torture or act of barbarism and to obtain the execution of an order or a condition, extortion with weapon, all in organized gang, and participation in an association of criminal criminals. The brigade of repression of banditry and the judicial police are responsible for investigations. According to the source close to the investigation, the cybercrime -fighting brigade and the BRI were also mobilized in this survey.

Several kidnappings with similar methods

This abduction followed by sequestration with ransom request in cryptocurrency occurs a little more than 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 the kidnapping.

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 installed in Dubai, who regularly published videos on his earnings, and a ransom request had been made.