A 37-year-old American cryptocurrency investor was charged with kidnapping an Italian tourist and abusing him at a New York home over a three-week period. The purpose of the torture was to extort the victim's Bitcoin wallet password, prosecutors said. The prime suspect and an alleged accomplice were arrested on Friday after the 28-year-old man from Italy managed to escape from the house in New York's exclusive Nolita district and attracted the attention of a traffic police officer.
A third person, also allegedly involved in the crime, has yet to be apprehended. According to the criminal complaint, the Italian man had traveled to New York in early May and voluntarily went with the investor to the luxurious home. There, the man from the US state of Kentucky and his accomplice allegedly seized electronic devices and his passport and demanded the release of his Bitcoin password.
Bitcoin is the world's oldest and best-known cryptocurrency. Tortured for Weeks When the victim refused, he was tied up and tortured for weeks with beatings, electric shocks, and death threats. Among other things, the man is said to have been held over a railing on the fifth floor and threatened with the death of his family, the New York Times reports, citing the indictment. Police officers arrested the attacker shortly after the victim fled on Friday. Among other things, a pistol and photos of the torture were found in the home. According to US media, two staff members were also found. Interviews in the coming days are expected to provide more details about the planning of the kidnapping and the background of the perpetrators.
