Bodies of Russian crypto millionaire, wife found in Dubai desert
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Mr Roman Novak and his wife Anna were last seen heading to a lake near the Hatta mountain resort to meet an “unknown investor”.
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DUBAI - The bodies of Russian crypto millionaire Roman Novak and his wife Anna were found dismembered and buried in the desert near Dubai.
The couple were discovered a month after they were reported missing in early October after several days without contact.
They were last seen heading to a lake near the Hatta mountain resort to meet an “unknown investor”.
The couple’s mobile phones were traced to Hatta and Oman a few days after they disappeared.
The mobile phone signals were later detected in Cape Town, South Africa, before they were lost entirely on Oct 4.
Ms Svetlana Petrenko of the Russian Investigative Committee said the killers had accomplices who helped plan the abduction.
“They rented vehicles and premises to detain the victims by force,” she said.
“After the murders, the suspects disposed of the weapons and the victims’ personal belongings in several areas of the United Arab Emirates,” added Ms Petrenko.
The suspects, all Russian nationals, have been detained and are expected to be extradited to St Petersburg.
Mrs Novak’s father and stepmother are said to have travelled to Dubai to care for their underage grandchild.
Mr Novak and his wife were known for showcasing a lavish lifestyle on social media.
Their posts featured luxury cars, private jets and connections with prominent figures such as Mr Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram.
Mr Novak had a criminal record, including a 2020 fraud conviction and a six-year prison sentence.
At the time of his disappearance, he was under investigation for allegedly defrauding crypto investors of more than US$499 million (S$650 million). Victims reportedly included businessmen from China and the Middle East. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
