Finnish police are in pursuit of Aleksanteri Tomminpoika Kivimäki, a suspected hacker accused of blackmailing 30,000 psychotherapy patients for over $500,000 in bitcoin.
Kivimäki, a Finnish national, had previously pleaded not guilty to hacking the Vastaamo psychotherapy center’s database in 2018. The alleged hacker demanded a ransom of 40 bitcoins, valued at approximately $518,000 during the breach, and later disclosed private documents in 2020.
Despite the terms of Kivimäki’s release, which included restrictions on leaving the Espoo area, specific residence requirements, regular police reporting, and constant phone availability, authorities have been unable to locate him since prosecutors filed a complaint last week.
ON MONDAY MORNING, KIVIMÄKI contacted HS with a Signal message and commented on the matter in a short conversation.
He said he read on the news on Monday that the authorities were looking for him.
“I’m not missing,” Kivimäki said in the Signal call.
What does it mean?
“It means I haven’t run away and I will definitely be seen in court.”
Where are you now?
“I’m in Espoo.”
His lawyer, Peter Jaari, claimed to be unaware of Kivimäki’s whereabouts but expressed confidence in his client showing up at the district court next week.
Prosecutors are currently adopting a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, refraining from issuing an Interpol notice. Pasi Vainio, the prosecutor, stated, “Clearly he is aware that he should contact the authorities, but whether he will is a question mark.” Authorities are monitoring the situation, and the hacker’s reappearance in court seems uncertain at this point.
Indonesian police have recently launched a major crackdown on illegal Bitcoin mining activities. As a result, 10 operations have been shut down because they are accused of stealing large amounts of power. The North Sumatra Police Force led the operation and seized a total of 1,134 Bitcoin mining computers, as well as other computers and 11 meters of electrical wire.