A Spanish businessman, Rodrigo Pérez Aristi Sá, was reportedly kidnapped and subjected to a violent ordeal in São Paulo last weekend. Armed individuals who pretended to be Civil Police officers took him from his car on March 24th in Ipiranga. The kidnappers then transported him to Biritiba Ussu in Mogi das Cruzes, where they kept him captive for five days while physically assaulting and drugging him with high doses of sleeping pills. They extorted money from his accounts during this time, causing him to lose an estimated $50 million (over R$250 million) in total. Authorities are now investigating the full extent of the financial crimes, including whether the kidnappers used traditional and digital currency for their activities.
After five days of captivity, Pérez was able to subdue one of his captors and escape. He alerted authorities at a nearby bar after freeing himself, leading them to where he had been held captive. The investigation led them to Ronaldo Batista, an ex-military police officer who admitted to committing the crime and was subsequently arrested alongside a firearm, ammunition and mobile phones.
Police have also begun investigating potential links between Pérez’s kidnapping and alleged financial crimes targeting South American fintech corporations and their customers. His case is now under intense scrutiny as authorities examine his legal status in Brazil.
The second kidnapper remains at large as law enforcement pursues further investigation into the perpetrators of this crime.