Blackmailers tortured and stripped French crypto millionaires

Two French cryptocurrency millionaires were held captive for more than two days by blackmailers who stripped them naked and fed them a single chicken wing.

Dramatic footage released by the Met shows Julius George, 22, Adel Sineen, 18, and Issac Bakoya, 18, being arrested after a high-speed chase that ended with the trio crashing into a lamppost.

Adel Sineen

Other members of the gang were later arrested, including Gerson Borges, 24, and Mohamed Osman, 29, who were convicted of conspiracy to blackmail and false imprisonment.

But mastermind Ibrahim Mohamed, known as Nino and entered as ‘Fatboy’ in one of the defendants’ phones, remains on the run.

He organised the scheme from overseas and communicated with the London-based gang on WhatsApp and Snapchat, Inner London Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Heidi Stonecliffe, KC, said the French millionaires lived extravagant lifestyles that were ‘widely published on social media’.

They were captured by three masked men armed with guns after travelling to the other side of London to buy cannabis and held in Rathbone Apartments, Canning Town, East London.

The victims were given one KFC spicy chicken wing during their capture, Inner london Crown Court heard.

Their ordeal ended only after a car chase of up to 70mph through residential streets after the Met’s Flying Squad tracked down the flat where the men were held.

When one of the victims was freed from a Mercedes, his hands were tied, and he was covered in cigarette burns following his torture ordeal.

Ms Stonecliffe said the pair, in their 20s, were bound with cable ties, beaten and had socks stuffed in their mouths as boiling hot water was poured over them.

They were also threatened with having their genitals cut off if they did not hand over $150,000 while one was warned his girlfriend would be raped.

The gang were traced through a friend of the Frenchmen’s phone, who had travelled with them in the Mercedes.

Ms Stonecliffe said he was dragged from the car in the ambush but his phone had been left in the car unnoticed.

Julius George

The friend persuaded a security guard at McDonald’s in Earl’s Court to make a 999 call and police traced the location of the gang’s hideout through the friend’s mobile.

The friend was receiving calls from the victims and one of the kidnappers trying to get the cryptocurrency transferred.

Flying Squad officers advised her on stalling techniques to give the police time to rescue the victims.

Jurors heard Yasir Mohamed, 23, drove to an Airbnb in Earl’s Court to access the victim’s cryptocurrency wallet only to be arrested by Flying Squad officers.

But he was acquitted of conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment, possessing an imitation firearm and sexual assault, and could not reach a verdict on conspiracy to blackmail.

The gang was also jointly cleared of conspiracy to kidnap.

Sineen, of Camberwell, admitted dangerous driving but was cleared of false imprisonment.

He and Bakoya were found not guilty of possessing a knife.

George, of Earlsfield, south west London, admitted carrying a knife,

Bakoya, of West Norwood, south London, admitted false imprisonment and Sineen, of Camberwell, south London,
admitted dangerous driving.

William Adebisi, 19, of Romford, was convicted of false imprisonment.

They will be sentenced on 8 September this year.

Chief Inspector Laura Hillier, attached to the Flying Squad, said: ‘These convictions demonstrate the Met’s determination to pursue those involved in serious violence, even in the most challenging circumstances.

‘Our thoughts remain with the victims, who have endured a traumatic and deeply distressing experience.

Isaac Bakoya

‘Significantly, this case is a rare example of a conviction of this kind being secured without victim testimony. It sends a clear message that offenders cannot assume they can evade justice simply because victims are unable or unwilling to give evidence.

‘Through meticulous investigation and the presentation of a wide range of evidence, officers were able to build a compelling case and hold those responsible to account.

‘This outcome reflects our continued commitment to tackling serious violence, protecting vulnerable people and keeping London safe. We will continue to relentlessly pursue those who seek to cause fear and harm in our communities.’