Ontario Crypto King’s Kidnapping Video Apologizes to Investors

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A video has emerged showing self-proclaimed crypto king Aiden Pleterski apologizing to investors after he was seriously injured in a kidnapping last December.

Toronto police announced on Monday that four people have been arrested in the kidnapping and torture case of the 24-year-old man from Whitby, Ont.

Court documents also say that one of the alleged kidnappers, Akil Heywood, 39, invested $740,000 with Pleterski.

Norman Groot, an attorney representing investors who lost millions with Pleterski, told CTV News Toronto that Heywood sent the video to one of his clients after the kidnapping. It recently started circulating online.

In the video, obtained by CTV News Toronto, Pleterski describes the turbulence of the past three years. It is not known if he was under duress during the shooting or where the video was recorded.

He starts with his own cryptocurrency investing in 2020, how it spread to his friends and family and led to luxury car rentals.

He explains the turning point that occurred when the crypto market began to crash the following year. I should have been honest with everyone and told them I had lost a lot of money, he said.

But instead, he says he tried to recoup his losses and lost more.

I apologize for everything, Pleterski said in the just over 12-minute video. I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s life. Honestly, I feel very, very humbled. I feel embarrassed.

Pleterski owes at least $35 million to cryptocurrency and currency investors, who have been trying to track down the money they gave him before he filed for bankruptcy nearly a year ago .

CTV News Toronto reached out to Pleterski’s attorney for comment, but could not reach him.

Citing confidentiality concerns, police did not name Pleterski when announcing the arrests in his kidnapping case on Monday, but court documents strengthen the link.

Toronto police say the kidnappers allegedly lured Pleterski into a car, pointed guns at him and held him captive for three days.

The alleged kidnappers freed Pleterski in downtown Toronto, demanding a large sum of money while threatening his life, as well as his family, according to the police.

Court documents, seen by CTV News Toronto, allege the kidnappers were seeking millions in ransom before releasing Pleterski.

Four suspects were arrested in July and charged with a long list of offences.

Heywood, of Toronto, is charged with kidnapping, kidnapping for ransom, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, forcible confinement and two counts of extortion.

Deren Akyeam-Pong, 24, of Toronto, faces more than 20 charges including kidnapping, kidnapping for ransom, forcible confinement, aggravated assault, extortion and motor vehicle theft.

Rakeem Henry, 24, from London, faces more than 15 similar charges.

The suspects were due to appear in court earlier in July.

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