Picture shows Roman Novak and his wife Anna
A cryptocurrency fraudster and his spouse were entombed in concrete and interred in the desert after witnessing each other's brutal torture and murder, authorities have revealed.
Three individuals have been taken into custody on murder charges following the discovery of Roman Novak, 38, and his 37 year old wife Anna's
remains wrapped in heavy plastic sheeting in a desolate UAE desert location. The couple, who relocated to Dubai after Mr Novak completed a three-year prison sentence in Russia for
digital currency fraud, were initially reported as missing persons in October, with details of their horrific deaths emerging this week.
Roman, originally from Saint Petersburg, established Fintopio, a digital currency exchange service that attracted substantial backing of approximately $500 million (£378 million) after its 2023 debut but suddenly shuttered for an "operational review" in October, stranding users without access to their money. It comes after a separate horrific case in which a
mom tortured and beat her son to death while his dad did nothing.
Remains sealed in wrapping and encased in concrete
Numerous Fintopio clients were located internationally, including several throughout the Middle East.
Russian authorities report that Roman and Anna's remains were largely preserved when discovered last month, having been sealed in polyethylene wrapping and encased in concrete.
Chemical agents had been applied in an effort to eliminate DNA evidence, reports
the Mirror.
The pair are thought to have been deceived into visiting a leased property in the Emirati town of Hatta under the guise of encountering prospective backers, but were instead subjected to torture to obtain their cryptocurrency wallet credentials before being murdered.
The couple had been chauffeured to Hatta by their personal driver, but switched vehicles midway through the trip.
Within a few hours, friends started receiving text messages stating he was 'stuck in the mountains on the Oman border' and urgently needed $152,000. Shortly after these messages, all communication with the couple ceased.
Signals from the couple's cell phones were detected for several days post their disappearance, initially within the UAE and later near Cape Town, South Africa, with the last 'ping' on October 4.
Detectives this the phones were activated in various locations as a 'smokescreen' to throw off investigators.
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Anna's dad and stepmom flew to Dubai to take care of the couple's two young kids following their parents' disappearance, and arrangements are being made to send the couple's remains back to Russia.
Three individuals have been arrested in Saint Petersburg in relation to the double homicide, including 53 year old ex-cop Konstantin Shakht, who is suspected to have orchestrated the killings.
Two suspects have confessed to the murder, while Shakht denies all allegations.
It comes after a
separate incident where a girl made a chilling plea before her dad forced her rapist to dig his own grave and take his own life.
nypost.com
