Five Convicted in London Torture Case Targeting French Crypto Millionaires

Five men have been convicted in connection with the blackmail and false imprisonment of two French cryptocurrency millionaires who were held for 52 hours in an East London flat last July, according to the Daily Mail.

The victims, both in their 20s, were ambushed in Shadwell and driven to a flat in Canning Town. Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC told Inner London Crown Court that their lavish lifestyles, "widely published on social media," may have attracted the gang's unwanted attention. Unlike traditional bank transfers, cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, making holders who publicly display wealth especially attractive targets for extortion — once funds are sent, they cannot be clawed back by an institution.

Ordeal Lasted Over Two Days

Stonecliffe described what followed as "cold, hard torture." The court heard that the pair were stripped naked, bound with tape and cable ties, beaten, and had boiling water poured over them. The gang demanded $150,000, and the victims ultimately transferred $30,000.

Neither victim can be identified, as one alleged a sexual assault by two of the gang members. Although the jury cleared the defendants on that charge, the allegation triggered legal protections shielding complainants' identities.

Investigation and Arrests

A breakthrough came when a friend of the victims, who had been dragged from their car, left his phone inside the vehicle. Police traced the handset to locate the Canning Town flat. The Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad led the investigation.

Yasir Mohamed was arrested at the victims' Earl's Court Airbnb, where he had gone to access a second crypto wallet. Jurors cleared him of false imprisonment and could not reach a verdict on the conspiracy to blackmail charge.

Gerson Borges and Mohamed Osman were convicted of conspiracy to blackmail and false imprisonment. William Adebisi and Julius George were convicted of false imprisonment. Isaac Bakoya admitted to false imprisonment. All defendants were cleared of kidnapping, possessing an imitation firearm, and sexual assault.

Adel Sineen, who crashed the gang's car into a lamppost during a 70 mph police pursuit, was cleared of false imprisonment but admitted dangerous driving.

The individual police say directed the operation from abroad — Ibrahim Mohamed, also known as "Nino" — has not been arrested. The cross-border dimension of the case, with French victims, a UK crime scene, and an alleged orchestrator outside both jurisdictions, underscores the jurisdictional hurdles that confront law enforcement when physical crypto crimes span multiple countries.

Defence Claims Rejected

Defence barristers argued that no kidnapping had occurred, claiming the Frenchmen had travelled to East London to purchase cannabis and that the financial demands were largely legitimate. Stonecliffe dismissed this account, highlighting the aggressive demands one gang member made at the victims' Airbnb.

Both victims declined to testify in person, citing fear of the gang. Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier said in a statement that the case was "a rare example of a conviction of this kind being secured without victim testimony." Securing convictions without victim cooperation matters beyond this single case: it signals to other gangs that witness intimidation may not guarantee impunity, and could shape how prosecutors approach similar wrench-attack trials where fearful victims refuse to take the stand.

After the verdicts were delivered, the court heard that three of those found guilty had prior convictions for manslaughter, robbery, and possession of a handgun with ammunition.

Wrench Attacks on the Rise Across Europe

So-called "wrench attacks" — violent physical assaults targeting cryptocurrency holders — have intensified over the past year. Blockchain security firm CertiK verified 52 such incidents worldwide in the first half of 2026, representing a one-third increase from the same period a year earlier.

Of the attacks recorded by CertiK, 39 occurred in Europe and 33 in France specifically, with a combined recorded exposure of $124.1 million. French prosecutors have charged 88 individuals in connection with the wave of attacks in that country.

While the victims in this case were French, the assault, arrests, and trial all took place in the United Kingdom. Britain has experienced its own string of similar incidents: three teenagers were jailed over a $4.3 million knife-point robbery in Hoxton, and four individuals were convicted in a London court for kidnapping a Belgian barber who was wrongly believed to hold a Bitcoin fortune.

All six defendants in this case, including Sineen, are scheduled to be sentenced in September.