Charged with kidnapping

Norway -- Four Sandefjord men, aged 21, 31, 25 and 31, were arrested by police and charged with kidnapping, according to dagbladet.no (in Norwegian).

The incident allegedly occurred December 16, 2010 and police said they were still looking for one additional suspect.

The group allegedly kidnapped another man, with connections to a well-known criminal gang (B-gjengen), south of Oslo.

The victim was forced into a car. He was taken to a place in Vestfold county, where he was threatened, beaten up and held captured for several hours.

The four kidnappers all belong to a special "martial arts environment" - a MMA "Fight Club" of sort, with connections to Hells Angels, according to reports.

Police speculates whether the martial arts trained men has been hired by criminals in Oslo to tray and scare others to pay back debt.

The case has been handled by the organiced crime unit in Oslo since december 2010.

Norway -- Four Sandefjord men, aged 21, 31, 25 and 31, were arrested by police and charged with kidnapping, according to dagbladet.no (in Norwegian).

The incident allegedly occurred December 16, 2010 and police said they were still looking for one additional suspect.

The group allegedly kidnapped another man, with connections to a well-known criminal gang (B-gjengen), south of Oslo.

The victim was forced into a car. He was taken to a place in Vestfold county, where he was threatened, beaten up and held captured for several hours.

The four kidnappers all belong to a special "martial arts environment" - a MMA "Fight Club" of sort, with connections to Hells Angels, according to reports.

Police speculates whether the martial arts trained men has been hired by criminals in Oslo to tray and scare others to pay back debt.

The case has been handled by the organiced crime unit in Oslo since december 2010.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Fights draw gangsters

Canada -- During a recent MMA event in Nanaimo, a number of people with connections to gangs or organized crime attended, according to police and canada.com.

Police claimed up to 50 individuals with gang or organized crime connections - outlaw motorcycle groups specifically - were identified during the event. In excess of 2,000 fans from the Island and Vancouver reportedly attended.

Police claimed MMA, which is drawing younger men in particular as a fan base, tends to attract individuals who have ties to organized crime.

Canada -- During a recent MMA event in Nanaimo, a number of people with connections to gangs or organized crime attended, according to police and canada.com.

Police claimed up to 50 individuals with gang or organized crime connections - outlaw motorcycle groups specifically - were identified during the event. In excess of 2,000 fans from the Island and Vancouver reportedly attended.

Police claimed MMA, which is drawing younger men in particular as a fan base, tends to attract individuals who have ties to organized crime.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Death penalty

Florida -- Former karate instructor and junior champion, Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, was handed down a pair of death sentences in the murders of Melanie and Byrd Billings, according to pnj.com.

The murders, described as "execution-style" was proven to be done by Gonzales July 9, 2009 inside the couple's home in Beulah.

Gonzalez reportedly led a gang of five men and one teenager to the spacious home early in the morning. The gang were after a "fortune" that Gonzales believed were kept there.

While handing down the sentence, the judge told the court that Gonzales clearly was the ringleader - directing the other participants.

The other defendants, cooperating with the state, testified that Gonzalez was the one who shot and killed the couple in the master bedroom.

Florida -- Former karate instructor and junior champion, Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, was handed down a pair of death sentences in the murders of Melanie and Byrd Billings, according to pnj.com.

The murders, described as "execution-style" was proven to be done by Gonzales July 9, 2009 inside the couple's home in Beulah.

Gonzalez reportedly led a gang of five men and one teenager to the spacious home early in the morning. The gang were after a "fortune" that Gonzales believed were kept there.

While handing down the sentence, the judge told the court that Gonzales clearly was the ringleader - directing the other participants.

The other defendants, cooperating with the state, testified that Gonzalez was the one who shot and killed the couple in the master bedroom.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Sumo and gangsters

Japan -- It has been revealed that two stable masters in the Japanese national sport of sumo is accused of providing tickets to members of an organized crime group for prime ringside seats to a major tournament in July 2009, according to yomiuri.co.jp.

The accused stable masters allegedly helped arrange for more than 50 gangsters to get the tickets via a third party. The front-row seats are primarily reserved for sponsors and are not for sale.

Police are reportedly investigating whether the gangsters made any profit from the tickets. A police spokesperson said the gang members may have obtained the ringside tickets so imprisoned members watching sumo on TV could see them.

The revelations came just days after reports that one high ranking sumo wrestler has been blackmailed by former associates of a gang and is allegedly in heavy debt from gambling.

Japan -- It has been revealed that two stable masters in the Japanese national sport of sumo is accused of providing tickets to members of an organized crime group for prime ringside seats to a major tournament in July 2009, according to yomiuri.co.jp.

The accused stable masters allegedly helped arrange for more than 50 gangsters to get the tickets via a third party. The front-row seats are primarily reserved for sponsors and are not for sale.

Police are reportedly investigating whether the gangsters made any profit from the tickets. A police spokesperson said the gang members may have obtained the ringside tickets so imprisoned members watching sumo on TV could see them.

The revelations came just days after reports that one high ranking sumo wrestler has been blackmailed by former associates of a gang and is allegedly in heavy debt from gambling.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

A karate 'rip-off'

New York -- A 36-year-old employee at a politically connected Brooklyn nonprofit has been arrested on charges of submitting phony receipts for karate instruction, attempting to swindle the city out of $4,080, according to nypost.com.

The man allegedly submitted expense reports showing that a senior citizens center - on 59 dates in 2007 - provided classes in karate to 20 young people. This allowed the center to access an $80,000 anti-gang-violence grant from the City Council.

However, 50 sign-in sheets that were part of the expense report were altered photocopies, authorities said.

New York -- A 36-year-old employee at a politically connected Brooklyn nonprofit has been arrested on charges of submitting phony receipts for karate instruction, attempting to swindle the city out of $4,080, according to nypost.com.

The man allegedly submitted expense reports showing that a senior citizens center - on 59 dates in 2007 - provided classes in karate to 20 young people. This allowed the center to access an $80,000 anti-gang-violence grant from the City Council.

However, 50 sign-in sheets that were part of the expense report were altered photocopies, authorities said.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Robbery gang busted

India -- Following the arrest of five men, Delhi Police have allegedly solved a large number of cases of robbery, snatching and car theft , according to sify.com.

The gang leader is reportedly a 35-year-old former karate national champion. The gang also includes a 27-years-old MBA graduate from a reputed university in Pune.

India -- Following the arrest of five men, Delhi Police have allegedly solved a large number of cases of robbery, snatching and car theft , according to sify.com.

The gang leader is reportedly a 35-year-old former karate national champion. The gang also includes a 27-years-old MBA graduate from a reputed university in Pune.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad