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A Toronto investor, Akil Heywood, has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting Aiden Pleterski, known as Ontario's "Crypto King," who reportedly lost over $40 million of investor funds. Heywood, who had invested $740,000 with Pleterski and served as an inspector in the bankruptcy proceedings, is accused of trying to extort $2 million in cryptocurrency from Pleterski and the bankruptcy trustee, Grant Thornton. Pleterski was allegedly beaten and held for ransom in December 2022.
Pleterski claims he was forced by his kidnappers to make certain statements in a video apologizing to investors and explaining his losses. Toronto police have apprehended four men in connection with the kidnapping, while one remains at large. The bankruptcy report indicates that Pleterski spent much of the investors' money on personal luxuries, with only a small fraction actually invested in cryptocurrency.