Latest news with #Mexicanisation
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
France charges 25 suspects in crypto abduction cases
PARIS: Twenty-five people, including six minors, were charged in Paris over a spate of kidnappings and attempted abductions of top figures in France's cryptocurrency world, prosecutors said on Saturday. 'Eighteen people have been placed in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing, and four have been placed under judicial supervision,' the Paris public prosecutor's office said, adding that the suspects were aged between 16 and 23. The investigation into 'attempted kidnapping by an organised gang' centres on a May 13 kidnapping attempt targeting the daughter and grandson of the chief executive officer of crypto firm Paymium, carried out in broad daylight in eastern Paris. Prosecutors said the probe also covers 'other unsuccessful plans', including an initial failed attempt on the same targets the day before, and a disrupted operation near the western city of Nantes on Monday. Authorities said this week they had thwarted the Nantes abduction and detained more than 20 suspects in connection with that plot and the one targeting Paymium boss Pierre Noizat's family. Footage of that attempted abduction shared on social media showed four masked men attacking Noizat's daughter, her husband and their child in the French capital's 11th district in mid-May. All three suffered light injuries and were taken to hospital. Noizat later praised his 'heroic' son-in-law and a man who used a red fire extinguisher to fend off the attackers. According to a source close to the case, it was while investigating that abduction attempt that the police discovered the new plot near Nantes. Most of the suspects were born in France and others in Senegal, Angola and Russia. - 'Very young' suspects - Among those arrested so far are suspects accused of involvement in carrying out the abductions and more senior figures believed to be involved in logistics, according to sources close to the case. Ambroise Vienet-Legue, who represents an 18-year-old suspect in the Nantes plot, described the accused as 'very young', lured by money and out of their depth. 'My client admitted to being a fuse in a criminal machine' and deeply regrets it, he said. Another lawyer welcomed the court's recognition of the defendants' age -- some are as young as 16 -- noting that judges had considered the protections granted to minors. The kidnappings and abduction attempts have become a major embarrassment for the French government and have sparked concern about the security of wealthy crypto tycoons, who have notched up immense fortunes from the booming alternative currency business. One prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur urged authorities to 'stop the Mexicanisation of France' -- a reference to kidnappings by violent organised crime groups. The spate of abductions began in January, when kidnappers seized French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland co-founded the crypto firm Ledger, valued at the time at more than $1 billion. Balland's kidnappers cut off his finger and demanded a hefty ransom. He was freed the next day, and his girlfriend was found tied up in the boot of a car outside Paris. In mid-May, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau held an emergency meeting with cryptocurrency leaders, with the ministry announcing plans to bolster their security.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
France charges 25 suspects in crypto abduction cases
PARIS: Twenty-five people, including six minors, were charged in Paris over a spate of kidnappings and attempted abductions of top figures in France's cryptocurrency world, prosecutors said on Saturday. "Eighteen people have been placed in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing, and four have been placed under judicial supervision," the Paris public prosecutor's office said, adding that the suspects were aged between 16 and 23. The investigation into "attempted kidnapping by an organised gang" centres on a May 13 kidnapping attempt targeting the daughter and grandson of the chief executive officer of crypto firm Paymium, carried out in broad daylight in eastern Paris. Prosecutors said the probe also covers "other unsuccessful plans", including an initial failed attempt on the same targets the day before, and a disrupted operation near the western city of Nantes on Monday. Authorities said this week they had thwarted the Nantes abduction and detained more than 20 suspects in connection with that plot and the one targeting Paymium boss Pierre Noizat's family. Footage of that attempted abduction shared on social media showed four masked men attacking Noizat's daughter, her husband and their child in the French capital's 11th district in mid-May. All three suffered light injuries and were taken to hospital. Noizat later praised his "heroic" son-in-law and a man who used a red fire extinguisher to fend off the attackers. According to a source close to the case, it was while investigating that abduction attempt that the police discovered the new plot near Nantes. Most of the suspects were born in France and others in Senegal, Angola and Russia. Among those arrested so far are suspects accused of involvement in carrying out the abductions and more senior figures believed to be involved in logistics, according to sources close to the case. Ambroise Vienet-Legue, who represents an 18-year-old suspect in the Nantes plot, described the accused as "very young", lured by money and out of their depth. "My client admitted to being a fuse in a criminal machine" and deeply regrets it, he said. Another lawyer welcomed the court's recognition of the defendants' age -- some are as young as 16 -- noting that judges had considered the protections granted to minors. The kidnappings and abduction attempts have become a major embarrassment for the French government and have sparked concern about the security of wealthy crypto tycoons, who have notched up immense fortunes from the booming alternative currency business. One prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur urged authorities to "stop the Mexicanisation of France" -- a reference to kidnappings by violent organised crime groups. The spate of abductions began in January, when kidnappers seized French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland co-founded the crypto firm Ledger, valued at the time at more than $1 billion. Balland's kidnappers cut off his finger and demanded a hefty ransom. He was freed the next day, and his girlfriend was found tied up in the boot of a car outside Paris. In mid-May, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau held an emergency meeting with cryptocurrency leaders, with the ministry announcing plans to bolster their security. - AFP
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
France charges 25 suspects in crypto abduction cases
France charges 25 suspects in crypto abduction cases (Photo: AFP) Twenty-five people, including six minors, were charged in Paris over a spate of kidnappings and attempted abductions of top figures in France's cryptocurrency world, prosecutors said on Saturday. "Eighteen people have been placed in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing, and four have been placed under judicial supervision," the Paris public prosecutor's office said, adding that the suspects were aged between 16 and 23. The investigation into "attempted kidnapping by an organised gang" centres on a May 13 kidnapping attempt targeting the daughter and grandson of the chief executive officer of crypto firm Paymium, carried out in broad daylight in eastern Paris. Prosecutors said the probe also covers "other unsuccessful plans", including an initial failed attempt on the same targets the day before, and a disrupted operation near the western city of Nantes on Monday. Authorities said this week they had thwarted the Nantes abduction and detained more than 20 suspects in connection with that plot and the one targeting Paymium boss Pierre Noizat's family. Footage of that attempted abduction shared on social media showed four masked men attacking Noizat's daughter, her husband and their child in the French capital's 11th district in mid-May. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo All three suffered light injuries and were taken to hospital. Noizat later praised his "heroic" son-in-law and a man who used a red fire extinguisher to fend off the attackers. According to a source close to the case, it was while investigating that abduction attempt that the police discovered the new plot near Nantes. Most of the suspects were born in France and others in Senegal, Angola and Russia. 'Very young' suspects Among those arrested so far are suspects accused of involvement in carrying out the abductions and more senior figures believed to be involved in logistics, according to sources close to the case. Ambroise Vienet-Legue, who represents an 18-year-old suspect in the Nantes plot, described the accused as "very young", lured by money and out of their depth. "My client admitted to being a fuse in a criminal machine" and deeply regrets it, he said. Another lawyer welcomed the court's recognition of the defendants' age, some are as young as 16, noting that judges had considered the protections granted to minors. The kidnappings and abduction attempts have become a major embarrassment for the French government and have sparked concern about the security of wealthy crypto tycoons, who have notched up immense fortunes from the booming alternative currency business. One prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur urged authorities to "stop the Mexicanisation of France" a reference to kidnappings by violent organised crime groups. The spate of abductions began in January, when kidnappers seized French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland co-founded the crypto firm Ledger, valued at the time at more than $1 billion. Balland's kidnappers cut off his finger and demanded a hefty ransom. He was freed the next day, and his girlfriend was found tied up in the boot of a car outside Paris. In mid-May, interior minister Bruno Retailleau held an emergency meeting with cryptocurrency leaders, with the ministry announcing plans to bolster their security.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
25 suspects in crypto kidnapping plots to face judges in France
PARIS: Twenty-five people today were set to appear before French investigating judges as part of several probes into a spate of kidnapping plots targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs, prosecutors said. This week authorities said they had foiled a new abduction attempt in the western city of Nantes, and detained more than 20 people over that attempt and another against crypto boss Pierre Noizat's pregnant daughter and young grandson. The judges will decide today whether to charge the suspects. The 25 suspects are implicated in particular in the attack in mid-May on the family of Noizat, the chief executive officer and co-founder of Paymium, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform. They will also be questioned about their roles in "other unsuccessful projects," with a view to their possible indictment for criminal conspiracy, the Paris prosecutor's office said. At least four are suspected of having plotted a kidnapping near Nantes on Monday, according to a source close to the case. The plan was foiled at the last minute. The kidnappings and abduction attempts have become a major embarrassment for the French government and have sparked concern about the security of wealthy crypto tycoons, who have notched up immense fortunes from the booming business. One prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur has urged authorities to "stop the Mexicanisation of France". According to footage that went viral on social media, four masked men attacked the daughter of Noizat as well as her husband and their child in the French capital's hip 11th district in mid-May. All three suffered light injuries and were taken to hospital. Noizat later praised his "heroic" son-in-law and a man who used a red fire extinguisher against the attackers. According to the source close to the case, it was while investigating the abduction attempt that targeted Noizat's family that the police discovered the new plot near Nantes. In mid-May, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau held an emergency meeting with cryptocurrency leaders, with the ministry announcing plans to bolster their security.
Kuwait Times
6 days ago
- Kuwait Times
France foils crypto kidnapping plot, arrests over 20
PARIS: France has foiled the latest in a spate of kidnapping plots targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs, and detained more than 20 people over that attempt and another against crypto boss Pierre Noizat's family, a police source said Tuesday. The new kidnapping attempt, near the western city of Nantes, was foiled on Monday before it was carried out, the police source said, without providing further details. It came after a series of attempted abductions targeting cryptocurrency traders and their families, prompting one prominent crypto entrepreneur to call on authorities to 'stop the Mexicanisation of France'. Authorities on Monday and Tuesday arrested 24 people as part of a probe into the Nantes abduction attempt, as well as an investigation into the attempted kidnapping in mid-May of Noizat's pregnant daughter and young grandson. Noizat is the CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform. 'The entire commando unit was arrested,' said the police source, referring to the attack on Noizat's family. The public prosecutor's office said it would issue a statement at a later date, probably on Friday. In an interview with BFM television, Noizat has praised his 'heroic' son-in-law and a neighbor armed with a fire extinguisher, who thwarted the attempted kidnapping in broad daylight in the heart of Paris. The kidnappings have raised concerns about the security of wealthy crypto tycoons, who have notched up immense fortunes from the booming business. 'Rise in kidnappings' French authorities have also been investigating the May 1 abduction of a crypto-millionaire's father who was later rescued by police. The victim, for whom a ransom of several million euros was demanded, was freed after being held for more than two days, in a raid on a house outside Paris. Six people have been charged in connection with that kidnapping. Five of them—aged 18 to 26 - were being prosecuted for organized extortion, kidnapping and false imprisonment involving torture or acts of barbarity by an organized gang, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in early May. On January 21, kidnappers seized French crypto boss David Balland and his partner. Balland co-founded the crypto firm Ledger, valued at the time at more than $1 billion. Balland's finger was cut off by his kidnappers, who had demanded a hefty ransom. He was freed the next day, and his girlfriend was found tied up in the boot of a car outside Paris. At least nine suspects have been charged in that case, including the alleged mastermind. Ledger co-founder Eric Larcheveque, who received a ransom demand when Balland was kidnapped, urged authorities to 'stop the Mexicanisation of France'. Mexico has been plagued by drug-linked murders and disappearances for decades. 'For several months now, there has been a rise in sordid kidnappings and attempted kidnappings. In broad daylight. In the heart of Paris,' Larcheveque said on X. 'Today, to succeed in France, whether in crypto-assets or elsewhere, is to put a target on your back.' In mid-May, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau held an emergency meeting with crypto currency leaders, with the ministry announcing plans to bolster their security. - AFP
