The bodies of Roman Novak, 38, and his wife Anna, 37, were found wrapped in plastic and buried in concrete in a remote desert area of the United Arab Emirates. The couple, who had moved to Dubai from Russia after Roman served three years in prison for crypto fraud, vanished in October. Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Harrowing details suggest the pair watched each other being tortured before they were killed. Roman, from Saint Petersburg, was the founder of cryptocurrency transfer platform Fintopio, which raised around £370 million after its launch in 2023 but abruptly closed for an 'operational review' in October, leaving users unable to access their funds.
Russian police said the remains were covered in polyethylene bags and buried in concrete, but the bodies were mainly intact. The couple are believed to have been lured to a rented villa in Hatta under the pretence of meeting potential investors. They were driven halfway by their personal driver, then picked up in another car to complete the journey.
It is thought the couple were tortured at the home for access to their crypto wallets. Friends said they received messages hours later claiming the couple were 'stuck in the mountains on the Oman border' and urgently needed £152,000, before losing contact. Signals from their mobile phones continued for several days, first in the UAE and later near Cape Town, South Africa, with the last ping on October 4. Investigators believe the phones were turned on in different locations as a 'smokescreen' to confuse police.
Three people were arrested in Saint Petersburg in connection with the double murder, including former police officer Konstantin Shakht, 53, who investigators believe arranged the hit. The two other suspects have reportedly admitted to the killing, while Shakht denies all charges. Roman and Anna had two young children, who were not with their parents at the time of death. Anna's father and stepmother flew to Dubai to reunite with the children. The couple's remains are due to be returned to Russia.
