Earlier this week, a 13-year-old boy was kidnapped in rural South Africa with the kidnappers leaving a ransom note demanding 15 BTC from the family. The boy has now been found, but the police have declined to say if the ransom was paid for his return.
“I can confirm that Katlego Marite has been found,” Mpumalanga police spokesman Leonard Hlathi said. “I am not at liberty to divulge more details. Currently, an investigation is underway.”
“He was alone when he was found. He is 100 percent fine. The parents are by the side with their son and the police are also with him.”
When the boy was taken, the family admitted that they had never even heard of Bitcoin, but clearly, the criminals felt that they would be able to get away with their crime with an untraceable ransom payment.