Belgian Court Sentences Crypto Kidnappers, Highlighting France’s Growing Problem
A Belgian court has handed down 12-year prison sentences to three kidnappers for abducting the wife of crypto coach Stéphane winkel. The incident took place in December outside their home in Brussels. The kidnappers were caught near Bruges after a police chase.
The court also ordered the kidnappers to pay over one million euros in damages to the victim. They rejected the kidnappers’ claims of acting under duress. However, the masterminds behind the attacks remain at large.
Belgium’s Brussels Criminal Court has sentenced three individuals to 12 years in prison for kidnapping Stéphane Winkel’s wife. Winkel is a crypto investor and trading coach. The abduction happened in December outside their home in Brussels. The victim was taken hostage in a van but was later freed by police near Bruges.
The court also ordered the kidnappers to pay over one million euros in damages. The masterminds behind the attack are still unknown. This case is part of a rising trend of crypto-related kidnappings, especially in France.
France has seen a surge in crypto-related kidnappings. A recent case involved a 26-year-old TikTok influencer in Juvisy-sur-Orge. Four men abducted him, demanding €50K in crypto. They released him when they found his accounts nearly empty.Other cases include the mutilation of a wealthy crypto investor’s father and an attempted kidnapping of a crypto exchange CEO’s daughter.
France has become a hotspot for these crimes due to its concentration of crypto founders and companies like Ledger and Paymium. The 2020 Ledger data breach exposed thousands of wallet buyers’ details, making French users more vulnerable. According to Cybernews, France accounts for 6 of the 22 confirmed crypto kidnappings worldwide.
