Defendant acquitted following lengthy cryptocurrency extortion trial alleging kidnap

Thursday 13 August 2026

Sam Robinson KC of the Garden Court Crime Team led Dan Taylor of Red Lion Chambers, instructed by Shabaz Ahmed of Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors.

Share This Page

Email This Page

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sam Robinson KC, leading Dan Taylor of Red Lion Chambers, successfully defended Yasir Mohamed, the first defendant, at Inner London Crown Court in a lengthy multi-handed trial involving allegations of kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail and possession of a firearm.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants had kidnapped two French cryptocurrency investors before attempting to extort access to substantial cryptocurrency assets.

From the outset, Sam Robinson KC and Dan Taylor challenged the prosecution’s central narrative. Through detailed analysis of the cryptocurrency evidence and carefully structured cross-examination, they systematically undermined the prosecution’s allegation of kidnap and established the evidential foundation upon which Mr Mohamed gave his account.

Although the prosecution maintained its allegation of kidnap throughout the trial, it became increasingly difficult to sustain in light of the other circumstantial evidence and the defence case. The jury acquitted every defendant of kidnap. Mr Mohamed was further acquitted of false imprisonment and possession of a firearm.

See press coverage:

Related Areas of Law

We are top ranked by independent legal directories and consistently win awards.

+ View more awards