By Rob Harris
London: Australian crypto billionaire Tim Heath bit off part of an attacker’s finger while fighting off a kidnapping attempt outside his apartment in Tallinn last year, an Estonian court has heard.
Heath, 47, was ambushed in the stairwell of his apartment in Tallinn’s Old Town on the night of July 29 last year. The assault was part of an alleged plot by an organised group to abduct the entrepreneur and extort cryptocurrency.
Billionaire Tim Heath at a court hearing in Tallinn, Estonia, on June 9.Credit: Ilmar Saabas/Delfi Meedia
The Tallinn-based Eesti Ekspress reported that one of the men, 49-year-old Azerbaijani national Allahverdi Allahverdiyev, allegedly placed his hand over Heath’s mouth to silence him during the attack. Heath responded by biting through his index finger. The court heard that DNA evidence later confirmed part of the bloodied severed finger was found on the street near St Nicholas Church, about 100 metres from the scene.
Heath also lost a tooth in the attack but managed to resist long enough to prevent the group from forcing him into a waiting van.
Allahverdiyev, a former Greco-Roman wrestler and boxer, told the court he was promised €100,000 ($180,000) to carry out the kidnapping. He admitted to being part of the attack but claimed he had second thoughts once it began, the paper reported.
“I did it,” he said in court. “I pretended to do something. It lasted about 30 seconds.” He also testified that he told the others to abort the plan, shouting: “Let’s go! Let’s leave!”
Kidnapping suspects Allahverdi Allahverdiyev (left) and Ilgar Mamedov at a court hearing in Tallinn, Estonia on June 9.Credit: lmar Saabas/Delfi Meedia
Kidnappings and physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency industry figures have surged in the past 18 months. At least 231 reported incidents have involved digital asset holders and nearly one-third of those have occurred since the beginning of last year, according to industry experts.
Eesti Ekspress reported that since the attempted abduction, Heath has spent more than €2.7 million on private security, changed homes and rarely appears in public without protection. His legal team is seeking restitution of those costs from the accused, despite the low likelihood of recovery.
Prosecutors allege the group planned to kidnap Heath, transport him to a rented sauna house nearby and force him to transfer cryptocurrency holdings. A hacker was allegedly recruited to assist in extracting the funds.
The report said the court heard that the attackers had been following Heath’s movements for months. A GPS tracker was placed on his vehicle and he had been under physical surveillance.
The group allegedly entered Estonia using forged Georgian passports obtained in Georgia before travelling through Paris and Finland. On July 22, they arrived in Tartu, Estonia, and then travelled to Tallinn. In the days before the attack, the group purchased painter’s uniforms, cable ties, tape and other materials from local hardware stores. They posed as painters outside Heath’s building to avoid suspicion.
At 10.15pm on July 29, Heath entered his building, where he was attacked by two men in the stairwell. Prosecutors say one of them, identified as Marco, punched Heath in the face, followed by Allahverdiyev. The attackers attempted to restrain him, but Heath’s resistance disrupted the plan.
At least seven people were allegedly involved in the kidnapping plot. Two – Allahverdiyev and Georgian citizen Ilgar Mamedov – are on trial. Two others remain wanted by police, including the alleged organiser, Najaf Najafli. The alleged identities of three others are unknown.
The attackers fled shortly after the struggle. A white van parked near the church and containing the forged passports and other materials was abandoned. Allahverdiyev and Mamedov were detained days later at the Lithuanian border. They were extradited to Estonia for prosecution.
Tim Heath with cricket legend Brett Lee and friends in December 2022. Credit: Instagram
Mamedov, whom prosecutors say was the getaway driver, denies involvement and claims he came to Estonia by accident while travelling in the region. He called the prosecutor’s story “a lie” and “a fabrication”. His defence lawyer called him “a stupid and naive person”.
Weeks after the failed attempt, Heath received anonymous messages via Telegram demanding 30 bitcoins – worth around €2.8 million at the time – along with photos taken outside his apartment. “Are you going to cooperate?” the message said. No further contact was made after Heath did not respond.
Prosecutor Lauri Jogi told the court the threat may not be over. “The risk is completely real,” he said.
Heath, who gave his evidence behind closed doors, appeared in court last week with a bodyguard. When approached by a journalist from Eesti Ekspress, he declined to comment, saying only: “No.”
Originally from Warracknabeal in Victoria, Heath founded Yolo Group, a crypto-focused gambling and fintech company headquartered in Tallinn. He has lived in Estonia for nearly 20 years. His company operates globally, employing more than 1000 people across 13 countries.
According to The Australian Financial Review Rich List, Heath is worth more than $2.27 billion. He has invested in more than 100 startups, primarily in fintech, blockchain and gambling technology sectors.
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