Russian self-proclaimed crypto millionaire & wife found dismembered & buried in Dubai desert

The dismembered bodies of Russian self-proclaimed crypto millionaire Roman Novak and his wife, Anna Novak, were discovered in the Dubai desert.

The pair lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to The Moscow Times.

Their driver, who last saw them on Oct. 2, had dropped them off near a lake in the Hatta area, a 90-minute drive from Dubai.

The meeting, which was located close to Oman's border, was described to be a potential meeting with investors.

Their remains were found in a remote area near the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.

Went missing

The couple's relatives reported their disappearance to the authorities after they were uncontactable for a few days, a statement by Russia’s Investigative Committee said.

St. Petersburg news outlet Fontanka reported that the couple were reportedly lured to a rented villa under the pretext of an investment meeting.

Killed, dismembered

They were then allegedly attacked and killed after supposedly failing to provide access to cryptocurrency funds.

Their dismembered remains were reportedly found on Oct. 3 near the city of Fujairah on the UAE's eastern coast along the Gulf of Oman.

Final SOS

Novak reportedly sent desperate messages to acquaintances, according to PerthNow.

He claimed he was "stuck in the mountains on the Oman border" and urgently needed money to the tune of US$200,000 (S$260,000).

Suspects

Eight Russian citizens are suspected of being involved in the couple's deaths, including three alleged organisers and five hired intermediaries.

Seven of the suspects have reportedly been detained in Russia.

Investigators are working with UAE authorities to establish the full circumstances of the crime.

A spokesperson for Russia's Investigative Committee, Svetlana Petrenko, said their killers had accomplices who helped organise the abduction.

"They rented cars and premises where the victims were held by force," she said.

"After the murder, the perpetrators disposed of the knives and the victims’ personal belongings, leaving them in different emirates."

Authorities believe the suspects fled the UAE and returned to Russia shortly after the killings.

The suspects' movements were traced via surveillance footage and phone signals that supposedly appeared briefly in Oman and later in South Africa before disappearing on Oct. 4.

Initial reports claimed that the victim’s home had been ransacked and that several electronic devices, such as crypto wallets and hard drives, were missing.

Convicted of fraud

Prior to his death, Novak was said to have founded the platform Fintopio.

It supposedly promised fast crypto transfers and partnerships with major tech firms, and attracted investors from Russia, China and the Middle East.

Novak also claimed to have ties to Telegram founder Pavel Durov.

He was convicted of fraud in 2020 and sentenced to six years' jail before being released in 2023.

At the time of his disappearance, he was apparently under investigation for allegedly stealing more than US$499 million (S$649 million) from crypto investors under the guise of business development.

Rich lifestyle

The couples' Instagram accounts showed that they led luxurious lifestyles.

Novak also said in a 2024 Instagram post that he and his wife have been together for 16 years.

Following their deaths, they leave behind two young children who are said to have been placed in the care of relatives.

Top photos via t0r/Instagram