Man survives ordeal with his kidnappers demanding bitcoin

Shoot-out results in one suspect arrest

A Gauteng financial adviser who was kidnapped by four men who demanded his bitcoin expressed relief after escaping the ordeal.

The incident occurred on Thursday when the financial adviser was scheduled to meet the four men at a filling station in Pretoria for business.

Much to his surprise, the victim was bundled into a vehicle and driven off while being assaulted.

Police spokesperson Const

Justice Ramaube told Sowetan the suspects opened fire on pursuing police officers, who returned fire and shot the rear tyre, which forced the vehicle to stop.

“The men managed to get out of the vehicle and fled on foot while police gave chase and one suspect was caught. Police also managed to find the victim who was still in the vehicle,” said Ramaube.

He said another suspect was cornered at a house in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, where he shot himself in the head, while the other two suspects were still on the run.

The 41-year-old victim, who asked not to be named as he fears for his life, said he thought he was going to die.

He said his captors demanded that he transfer his bitcoin into their account or they would kill him and dump his body at an abandoned mine.

“I had a meeting scheduled on Thursday with one of the men. I didn’t know it was a trap. When we met at the garage, one of them pulled out a gun and they forced me into their car,” he said.

Bitcoin is a digital currency without a central bank or administrator.

It can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for a middleman.

“While driving on the highway, I heard them saying that they were being followed by the police.

One of them started shooting and the police shot back. They stopped on the side of the road and ran off, leaving me inside the car. An officer came and I was freed,” he said.

The victim said he was shocked by his abductors’ demands for bitcoin as he did not own any.

“I was really lucky to escape with my life because those guys didn’t seem like they were playing about,” he said.

Ramaube said police were investigating a case of kidnapping and robbery.