A Russian professional basketball player, Daniil Kasatkin, was arrested on June 21 in France at the request of the United States who suspect him of having been part of a network of hackers proceeding by ransomiciel, the France-Presse agency (AFP) learned on Wednesday, July 8, during a Paris hearing during which was decided to keep in detention. Facts disputed by the basketball player.
Daniil Kasatkin, who was playing until recently with the Moscow Mba-Mai team, was arrested at the Parisian airport in Roissy-Charles de Gaulle when he had come to France with his fiancée whom he had just asked for marriage.
The network of computer hackers to which the basketball player is suspected of having been a part would have attacked some 900 companies by ransom, including two federal establishments. The facts date back to 2020-2022, for damage which has not been communicated.
Placed under extradition nut since June 23, Daniil Kasatkin, 26, is accused by the American justice of having negotiated the payment of ransoms in the context of this network, which he denies. The basketball player, who has followed studies for a time in the United States, is the subject of an American arrest warrant for “conspiracy to commit computer fraud” and “computer fraud”.
“He falls from the clouds”
“He bought a used computer. He did absolutely nothing. He falls from the naked “said his lawyer, Me Frédéric Bélot, to journalists including AFP. “He sucks in computer science and is not even able to install an application. He did not touch anything in the computer: this was either hacked, or the pirate sold it to act under the cover of another person ”he advanced.
Me Bélot pleaded in vain his release, by proposing a judicial control accompanied by conditions and the payment of a deposit. He mentioned in particular the impact of detention on his physical condition, and in particular on his muscle mass, which risks “Gravely compromise the continuation of his career”. “He has no chair in his cell”,, “No access to a room or a sports field”he described.
The basketball player, who explained that he did not feel safe in prison due to the conflict between his country and Ukraine, said that his weight had already increased from 95 kg to 89 kg.
The MBA announced on July 3 that Daniil Kasatkin left the club, after four years in this team with whom he participated in 172 games and was twice bronze medalist of the Russian Cup. He has already played European basketball championships in the youth teams in Russia.
