LONDON: Chijindu Ujah was arrested as part of a cryptocurrency fraud investigation, Britain’s Regional Organised Crime Unit Network (ROCU) said on Thursday, with the former world champion later released on bail.
ROCU said Ujah was among 10 people arrested and one of seven suspects bailed to appear at a court hearing on May 28 after being charged with conspiracy to defraud.
Ujah did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters, while British Athletics declined to comment.
“It is alleged the suspects were part of an organised crime group linked to a scam which involved phone calls to multiple victims from people purporting to be police officers and cryptocurrency companies,” ROCU said in a statement.
“Victims are reported to have been tricked into sharing important security details, including seed phrases, before discovering funds stored in their crypto wallets had been stolen.”
ROCU added that one alleged victim is believed to have lost more than 300,000 pounds ($410,000).
