Accused allegedly used cable ties to restrain man in hotel, extorted over $200,000 in crypto
A man, 46, was charged in court on Sept 13 with extortion after allegedly restraining another man with cable ties and extorting $200,000 from him.
The police said they received a report on Sept 11 at about 3.55pm from a woman who said that her male friend had asked her to transfer cryptocurrency to him.
The friend claimed that his friend needed the money.
She transferred a total of more than $78,000 via a QR code, then lodged a police report as she suspected that her friend was in trouble.
Through extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the accused and arrested him at Changi Airport Terminal 1 within eight hours of receiving the report.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly restrained the male victim with cable ties at a Coleman Street hotel and extorted a total of more than $200,000 from him.
The extorted cryptocurrency was recovered.
The victim sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital.
The offence of extortion carries an imprisonment term of not less than two years and not more than seven years and with caning.
