Earlier today, a Vietnamese court was presented with the disturbing account of a premeditated cryptocurrency heist orchestrated by a 16-person gang, which included two police officers. The trial centered around Ho Ngoc Tai, a crypto investor who resorted to illicit methods to recoup his loss of 100 billion Vietnamese dongs (VND) in Bitcoin. The proceedings were conducted with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail as the court sought to uncover the truth behind this brazen act of criminality.
As per a recent local report, Tai made a foray into the world of cryptocurrency in 2018, based on the recommendation of an acquaintance, Le Duc Nguyen. Regrettably, Tai’s decision to sell 1,000 Bitcoin (BTC) for VND 100 billion, equivalent to $4.3 million, and invest in subpar digital assets resulted in a complete loss. Consequently, Tai harbored suspicions that Nguyen had deceived him.
In an attempt to retrieve the misplaced funds, Tai enlisted the assistance of a criminal syndicate to abduct Nguyen and his loved ones, coercing him into divulging the access code to his digital wallet. The collective subsequently transferred cryptocurrencies from Nguyen’s account to Tai’s, effectively recovering the lost assets.
Following the virtual currency theft of 35 billion VND, Tai and his associates transported Nguyen and his family to Thu Duc City, where they successfully sold the illicit funds for 18.88 billion VND. Tai, the mastermind behind the operation, retained 80 Bitcoin in his e-wallets.
As per the report, the two law enforcement officers admitted to their crime participation. Nevertheless, a few accused have refuted the allegations, asserting their ignorance of Tai’s burglary of Nguyen’s belongings. They have contended that Tai was merely attempting to recover a debt from Nguyen.
In recent developments, a crypto portfolio manager from a Dubai-based firm was unfortunately abducted by his colleagues while vacationing in Spain. The victim was held for ransom, with the kidnappers demanding a hefty sum of €1 million for his release. However, thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of 50 police officers, the kidnappers were successfully apprehended, and the victim was safely rescued. This serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a vigilant and secure environment in the workplace.
