Alleged Kidnappers Threatened Victim with Mutilation for Ransom

Hamburg - A harrowing case of alleged kidnapping and extortion is currently unfolding in Hamburg, where two men and a woman are facing serious charges. The defendants are accused of holding a 33-year-old man captive, subjecting him to physical abuse, and threatening to sever his ear if he did not disclose the location of his money stash.

The prosecution alleges that the perpetrators, identified as 39-year-old Tagir S. from Russia and 35-year-old Daniel W. from Germany, lured the victim to a residence in Hamburg-Bergedorf. Once there, he was forced to remove his shoes and socks before being bound with zip ties to a plastic chair. This chilling scenario has been described as a form of torture, with the assailants demanding a ransom of at least EUR150,000.

To assert their seriousness, the accused reportedly struck the victim multiple times and threatened him with a lighter and a cutter knife, indicating that they would set him on fire or cut off his fingers if he refused to comply. Tagir S. allegedly displayed a firearm and warned the victim that he would shoot him if he did not reveal where his money was hidden.

Eventually, under duress, the victim disclosed the whereabouts of EUR35,000, which the attackers found in his home in Kuddewörde, near Schwarzenbek. They then fled in the victim's vehicle.

The victim did not report the incident to authorities for two to three days, as he was acquainted with his captors. The prosecution has charged all three individuals with aggravated extortion, kidnapping, and severe bodily harm. The two men remain in pre-trial detention, facing sentences of at least five years, while the woman, charged as an accomplice, has been released.

In a broader context, this case reflects ongoing issues with extortion in the region, prompting calls for enhanced preventive measures. Authorities are increasingly concerned about the rise of such crimes involving young perpetrators, often operating across borders.