Czech Police Apprehend Suspects In Bitcoin Donation Case

Czech police have reportedly arrested darknet marketplace founder Tomas Jirikovsky in connection with a $45 million Bitcoin donation that prompted the resignation of former Justice Minister Pavel Blazek earlier this year.

Czech police intervened in the Bitcoin (BTC) donation case that led to Blazek’s resignation on Thursday. According to Chief State Prosecutor Radim Dragoun, authorities were “securing people and things.” He added, “This is a criminal case that was recently separated by the police authority for independent proceedings from joint proceedings.”

Although the statement did not mention any arrests, local reports suggested that police detained Tomas Jirikovsky, a convicted criminal who allegedly paid 468 BTC (worth around $45 million at the time) to the minister to avoid a new prison sentence.

Bitcoin donor attempts escape before police arrest

Jirikovsky reportedly tried to escape police by climbing onto the roof of his home during a raid on Thursday night, Deník N reported Friday.

His ex-wife confirmed the intervention, saying a neighbor alerted her to the rooftop drama. The police then apprehended Jirikovsky and took him into custody, the report said.

Czech police arrested Tomas Jirikovsky on Thursday night (translated by Grok). Source: Deník N

Jirikovsky is a Czech programmer and the architect of the illegal darknet marketplace Sheep Marketplace, which was linked to drug trafficking, weapons sales and counterfeit goods.

Nine-year prison sentence and parole in 2021

According to Seznam Zprávy, Jirikovsky is estimated to have generated 680 BTC from operating Sheep Marketplace, which he launched in early 2013 when Bitcoin was valued at around $100.

After terminating the marketplace in December 2013 amid the shutdown of Silk Road, Jirikovsky also reportedly stole an additional 841 BTC from the platform’s buyers and sellers, bringing his personal Bitcoin fortune to at least 1,500 BTC.

*Tomas Jirikovsky before the High Court in Olomouc in May 2018. Source: Seznam Zprávy*

In 2017, the Brno Regional Court sentenced him to nine years in prison for embezzlement, drug trafficking and illegal arms possession related to Sheep Marketplace. He was released on parole for good behavior in 2021 after serving half his sentence.

The story didn’t end there, as Czech authorities never recovered Jirikovsky’s Bitcoin holdings, which were suspected to be far more than 1,500 BTC.