In Australia, 24-year-old Katherine Kolivas kidnapped a member of the Saudi royal family, demanding $40,000 in Bitcoin for his release, according to the Daily Mail.

Court documents reveal that Kolivas and three accomplices targeted the victim through a dating app, arranging a meeting. After the date, she asked the man to escort her home, where her co-conspirators were waiting.

The royal was then assaulted, bound with zip ties, and threatened with having his fingers cut off with a knife.

The victim, who turned out to be a crypto trader, secured his freedom by transferring approximately $40,000 in Bitcoin through a friend. The attackers also stole his house keys, designer clothing, a PlayStation 5, and several iPhones.

After being released, the victim immediately reported the incident to the police and sought treatment for head and wrist injuries at a hospital.

Kolivas pleaded guilty to kidnapping, extortion, reckless bodily harm, theft, and possession of a weapon. She faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. However, the Australian court sentenced her to just 30 months of corrective work.

The judge cited “exceptional circumstances” required by law to avoid imprisonment, including her young age, troubled childhood, fragile mental health, prospects for rehabilitation, and the death of her brother during the hearings.

The other accomplices also avoided prison sentences after offering “sincere apologies” to the victim.

In related news, in November, unidentified individuals kidnapped Dean Skurka, CEO of Canadian crypto firm WonderFi, demanding a $1 million ransom.