A Russian cryptocurrency fraudster and his wife were tortured to death, encased in concrete, and buried in a remote desert area of the United Arab Emirates, a brutal investigation has revealed.
Gruesome Discovery in the Desert
The bodies of Roman Novak, 38, and his 37-year-old wife Anna were discovered last month wrapped in thick polyethylene bags and buried in concrete. Police reported that chemical solvents had been used in an attempt to destroy DNA evidence. The couple, who had relocated to Dubai after Roman served a three-year prison sentence in Russia for crypto fraud, were first reported missing in October.
Their disappearance followed a suspicious journey to the Emirati city of Hatta. The pair were driven by their personal chauffeur but switched to another vehicle partway through the trip. Shortly after, friends received alarming text messages claiming Roman was 'stuck in the mountains on the Oman border' and urgently needed £152,000. All contact with the couple was then lost.
A Deadly Trap and a Crypto Hunt
Investigators believe the couple were lured to a rented villa in Hatta under the pretence of a meeting with potential investors. Instead, they were ambushed, tortured for access to their cryptocurrency wallets, and subsequently killed. In a deliberate attempt to mislead authorities, the couple's mobile phones were activated in various locations after their deaths, with signals detected first within the UAE and later near Cape Town, South Africa. The final signal, or 'ping', was recorded on October 4.
Roman Novak was the founder of Fintopio, a cryptocurrency transfer platform that attracted around $500 million (£378 million) in investment after its 2023 launch. The platform abruptly closed for an 'operational review' in October, locking users out of their funds. Many of its clients were based overseas, including in the Middle East.
Arrests and Aftermath
Following an international investigation, three people have been arrested in Saint Petersburg on suspicion of the double murder. Among those detained is 53-year-old former police officer Konstantin Shakht, who is alleged by investigators to have arranged the hit. Two of the suspects have confessed to the killings, while Shakht denies all charges.
In the tragic aftermath, Anna's father and stepmother travelled to Dubai to collect the couple's two young children. The bodies of Roman and Anna Novak are now set to be repatriated to Russia.
