Brothers disappear with billions in bitcoin

TWO brothers based in South Africa who ran a cryptocurrency investment platform, Africrypt, have disappeared with US$2,2 billion worth of their clients’ bitcoin at current prices.

The flare, according to a Bloomberg report, follows an April incident when Africrypt chief operating officer Ameer Cajee told clients there had been a hack and requested they not report the missing funds to authorities.

It is reported that he (Ameer) and his brother, Raees, founded the company in 2019.

After receiving the ominous notice, a group of investors hired Hanekom Attorneys to investigate. The news was originally reported last week by Kenya news site, BitcoinKE.

Hanekom Attorneys is reportedly at the moment investigating and have been unable to locate the Africrypt founders and have notified South Africa’s priority crime investigation unit The Hawks.

Crypto exchanges around the globe have also been placed on alert of the supposed theft in case the brothers attempt any coin conversions. A separate group of investors has proceeded with liquidation proceedings against the company.

During the ongoing investigation, Hanekom Attorneys discovered Africrypt’s pooled funds were transferred from its South African accounts and client wallets and put through bitcoin tumblers and mixers in an effort to make them untraceable.

The company website has also been allegedly taken down.

*Additional report, Forbes.

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