A Belgian court punished three people for their role in a cryptocurrency related to the kidnapping that targets the wife of local crypto businessman Stéphane Winkel.
The Brussels Criminal Court issued a 12-year prison prison to three kidnappers who attacked Winkel’s wife in December 2024, local news agency La Dernière Heure reported on Thursday.
Criminals were convicted of hostage-taking after abducting the victim outside his home, forcing him to a van and demanding a ransom in cryptocurrency.
Winkel alerted the law enforcement of the van and then arrested the kidnappers and released the victim after taking the vehicle on the road to a dangerous maneuver.
Masterminds of kidnapping are still big
In addition to prison sentences, the court ordered three sentenced kidnappers to pay at least 1 million euros ($ 1.2 million) to civil injuries to the victim
While the trio is responsible, the court acknowledges that the masterminds behind the kidnapping remain unidentified. It also denied the defendants’ claims that they were forced into crime under the threat of death.
According to the report, the case also involves a minor, which is handled separately by the juvenile court.
The impact on winkel’s crypto ventures
Winkel, a well-known local crypto investor and coach, runs educational platforms such as Crypto Académie and Crypto Sun. His YouTube channel has about 40,000 subscribers and offers free guides to those interested in cryptocurrency.
Although Winkel and his wife received urgent assistance from law enforcement, the suffering left them deeply and reported that they were forced to move.
“I consider myself a protector of freedom, but now I realize that salvation must be a full priority for me and those around me,” Winkel write In an X post in January.
Related: Crypto Billionaire bit off the kidnapper’s finger during ambush: Report
The trader also promised to continue making content but with a safer approach, stating:
“There are no more purse tournaments or demonstrations, rather than focusing on education, mitigation and market analysis. I will share my experience to help others avoid such situations.”
Winkel returned to YouTube in late June, uploading his first video from the kidnapping. Unlike previous videos, the new format only features a voice narration, with no on-camera appearance.
Alarming growing trend
Winkel’s story is another example of a disturbing increase in crypto -related kidnappings around the world, featuring the dangers facing crypto investors that maintain a public profile.
In mid -June, another crypto abduction incident occurred in France, including Offenders kidnapped a 23-year-old man and asks his partner to pay 5,000 euros ($ 5,764) cash, with his Private key to a ledger hardware wallet.
In another case with a high profile in May, three men attempted to kidnap The daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the co-founder and CEO of Paymium Exchange Paymium.
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