Extorting 40,000 pounds BTC! 24-year-old TikToker kidnaps Arabian royal family, the court surprisingly gives a lenient sentence?

"Sweet Dinner" turned out to be a trap in the scam circle

A bizarre crime occurred in Victoria, Australia this week: 24-year-old TikTok creator Catherine Colivas conspired with three accomplices to kidnap a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family and forced the victim to pay a ransom of 40,000 US dollars worth of Bitcoin, even threatening to 'cut off fingers' if not complied. However, what shocked the public was that despite Colivas admitting to kidnapping, extortion, and firearm charges, she was ultimately sentenced to 30 months of community correction, without imprisonment.

Image source: Herald Sun Catherine Colivas

According to public records from local courts, the kidnapping took place earlier this year. The victim was a 23-year-old Saudi royal youth engaged in crypto trading and watch trading. He met Colivas through a dating app, and the two met for drinks and dinner at the bar. It is understood that Colivas suspected of drugging the victim during the banquet and lured him to the door of his residence on the grounds of "sending her home". Just as the victim got out of the car and kindly accompanied her to the door, the three accomplices, who had already laid an ambush, raided, tied the person with straps and threatened with blades. Threatened, the victim offered to pay a ransom in Bitcoin and called a friend to facilitate a $40,000 (NT$1.2 million) Bitcoin transfer. After the money arrived, the gangsters also took the victim's car keys and invaded his home to search for designer clothes, PS5 consoles and multiple iPhones.

Are criminals with light sentences exempt from punishment by the court?

After the incident, the victim was rescued and sent to the hospital for treatment of head and wrist bruises, and immediately called the police. Police quickly arrested Colivas and other people involved and charged them with "kidnapping," "intimidation," "possession of guns," and "fraud." It stands to reason that kidnapping can be sentenced to up to 25 years under Australian criminal law. However, in the final verdict, the judge took into account Colivas's youth and "special circumstances": she had an unhappy childhood, her current fragile mental health, and her brother Andrew died unexpectedly while awaiting trial. The judge therefore found that "the punishment should not be too severe" and ordered Colivas to serve only a 30-month community corrections order (similar to social labor service) instead of a custodial sentence.

As soon as the news came out, public opinion was shocked and uneven. Not only because Colivas and his party threatened to cut off their fingers because of the extremely heinous crime, but also because of the special status of the Saudi royal family, which involved huge international issues. Local media criticized the verdict as "too light" and could contribute to the risk of crimes against investors in highly profitable crypto assets. Some legal experts believe that such lenient punishment is unlikely to have a deterrent effect on society, and worry that there may be more similar kidnappings against crypto billionaires in the future.

Risk alarms, the crypto community calls for self-protection

In fact, in recent years, with the sharp rise in the price of cryptocurrencies, many wealthy individuals who hold Bitcoin or other virtual assets have become targets for criminal groups. Because cryptocurrencies can be traded instantly and remotely, it is difficult to trace the transactions, making them more attractive to criminals. Interpol has also issued multiple warnings, urging investors to be cautious about disclosing personal cryptocurrency holdings and to be mindful of their safety in social situations.

It is worth mentioning that another 22-year-old woman, Paris Kennedy, who was involved in theft and burglary in the same case, was also briefly detained for 90 days and is now released only on the basis of "good behavior". The judge claimed that she "expressed sincere remorse to the victim". On the other hand, Colivas testified to the court after the verdict that she regretted her actions and admitted that she was led astray by her boyfriend (who was involved in drugs) at that time. Regarding the criticism from the outside world of the light sentence, the judge only responded that the case background and correctional needs should be taken into account and heavy penalties should not be imposed.

Image source: Herald Sun Paris Kennedy (left), Catherine Colivas (right)

The lesson of this case is that cryptocurrency tycoons or traders need to be more cautious when interacting on social or dating platforms. Nevertheless, the light sentence of the judge still caused controversy. Public opinion called for legal amendments or a revision of the sentencing standards, so that these violent criminals who hold hostages and demand bitcoin cannot easily escape justice.

【Disclaimer】There are risks in the market, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute investment advice, and users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their specific situation. Investment based on this is at your own risk.

"Ransom 40,000 euros in Bitcoin! 24-year-old TikToker kidnapped an Arab royal family, court surprisingly lightly sentenced?" This article was first published in "Cryptocurrency City"