Dubai police have uncovered harrowing details in the murder of a Russian cryptocurrency entrepreneur and his wife, a case that has drawn international attention. The bodies of Roman Novak, 38, and Anna Novak, 37, were found buried in a remote desert area of the United Arab Emirates in late November 2025, weeks after they were reported missing in October.
Authorities believe the couple was lured to a villa in Hatta under the guise of a business meeting. Investigators state they were subsequently tortured in an attempt to gain access to their cryptocurrency assets before being killed. Their remains were discovered wrapped in plastic and concealed in concrete.
Three individuals have been arrested in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in connection with the double murder. Among the suspects is a former police officer, Konstantin Shakht, who is alleged to have organized the attack. The other two suspects have reportedly confessed, while Shakht denies the charges.
Roman Novak was the founder of Fintopio, a cryptocurrency transfer platform that raised significant funds before suspending operations and locking user withdrawals in October 2025—around the time of his disappearance. He had previously served a prison sentence in Russia for crypto fraud before relocating to Dubai. The couple is survived by two young children.