In summary
- Catherine Colivas, 24, kidnapped a Saudi prince, forcing him to pay $40,000 in Bitcoin under threat of mutilation.
- Despite pleading guilty to multiple charges, Colivas avoided prison and received 30 months of community correction for “exceptional circumstances.”
- Another accomplice, Paris Kennedy, served 90 days in prison and was released for good behavior after showing remorse toward the victim.
A 24-year-old woman kidnapped a Saudi royal, with the help of three other accomplices, and forced him to pay $40,000 in Bitcoin after threatening to cut off his fingers. But, as reported by the Daily Mail, the perpetrator was not sent to prison, despite pleading guilty.
Catherine Colivas faced a maximum sentence of 25 years at her hearing Monday in Victoria, Australia. He pleaded guilty to kidnapping, extortion, recklessly causing injury, robbery and weapons possession. However, he was only given a community corrections order – essentially the Australian version of community service.
The Victoria County Court heard Colivas went for drinks and dinner with the Saudi royal after they matched on a dating app. Colivas’ victim then took her back home. As the royal walked Colivas to her door, he was ambushed by three men — including Colivas’s boyfriend.
The victim was then tied with zip ties so that he could not escape and threatened at knifepoint. The judge heard he was told his fingers would be cut off if he did not pay money to the perpetrators.
Because he was a Cryptocurrency trader, the victim offered Bitcoin and had to call a friend to complete the $40,000 transfer. After this, his keys were stolen and the perpetrators ransacked his house. Court documents say they stole designer clothing, a PlayStation 5 and several iPhones.
The victim was then released and immediately went to police, before spending the night in hospital treating injuries to his head and wrists.
But despite the severity of the crime to which Colivas pleaded guilty, the judge found that a 30-month community corrections order was sufficient due to “exceptional circumstances.”
Specifically, the judge cited his youth, troubled upbringing, fragile mental health, prospects for rehabilitation, and that his brother had died while awaiting trial as reasons for the sentence.
Andrew Colivas, Catherine’s brother, died unexpectedly at age 25 while on vacation with friends in Southeast Asia.
Another woman, 22-year-old Paris Kennedy, also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor burglary and robbery charges in connection with the case. Having already spent 90 days behind bars, she was released on good behavior after the judge said Kennedy had shown genuine remorse toward the victim.
Edited by Stacy Elliott.
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