David Balland, co-founder of the developer of Cryptocurrency Wallet Ledger, was rescued in a police operation after being kidnapped in a ransom attack in France, according to information, ending days of whirling rumors.
The Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, said that Ballard and his wife had been kidnapped early Tuesday from their home in central France and held in captivity with two distinct addresses, Reuters reported on Friday. The prosecutor said that the kidnappers had contacted another large book co-founder to demand a ransom paid in cryptocurrencies.
A police operation involving French forces GIGN FREED BALLARD on Wednesday and his wife was found on Thursday, the prosecutor announced. Ballard was transported to the hospital to receive treatment at one of his hands, which was mutilated, said Beccuau, without revealing more details, according to Reuters. The local newspaper Le Parisien reported that the attackers had cut the finger of Ballard and sent it to partners to extort a ransom.
“We are deeply relieved that David and his wife have been released and are now safe,” said Pascal Gauthier, Chairman and CEO of Ledger, in a shared press release with Coindesk.
Rumors circulated on social networks earlier this week that one of the co-founders of Ledger had been kidnapped. Relationships alleging that Eric Larchevêque, another co-founder of the company, was the victim who was false. Coindesk contacted Ledger to confirm at the time, but the company did not comment.
“Our absolute priority has always been to allow the police to do their job and protect the integrity of the investigation,” said CEO Gauthier. “We have respected requests to apply the law concerning the safeguard of critical details of the current investigation and appreciated members of the press who did the same.”
The incident was another example of an alarming trend in flights and crimes targeting cryptography traders and industry figures while the cryptographic bruise market is working on the creation of wealth for investors. For example, Dean Skurka, the CEO of Wonderfi, a cryptocurial portfolio company listed on the stock market which has one of the biggest exchanges of Crypto in Canada, was kidnapped for a ransom in Toronto last year.
“Have seen a slight increase in IRL [real life] Flights targeting cryptographic merchants located in Western Europe in recent months, “the popular detective of the Zachxbt blockchain has been published on Telegram.” The cases all involve people known in the cryptographic community where they were held under the threat of a weapon. While the rest of the cycle continues, be very attentive to whom you share your victories and meet [in real life]. “”
