A religiously-motivated gang who lured a Jewish music producer to Wales under false pretences before beating and kidnapping him have been jailed for more than eight years each.
Itay Kashti, a London-based music producer and composer, was tricked into travelling to a rented property in Brynteg, near Llanybydder on August 26, 2023, where he was ambushed, assaulted, and handcuffed to a radiator.
Meticulously Planned Kidnap Plot
Prosecutors told Swansea Crown Court that the kidnappers – Faiz Shah, 23, Mohammad Comrie, 23, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20 – planned the abduction over encrypted messages on Telegram, where they:
• Pretended to be from Polydor Records, inviting Mr Kashti to a fake music camp
• Discussed equipment needed for the attack, including:
• A rental car
• Face masks, gloves, handcuffs, and cable ties
• A gag and ketamine to incapacitate the victim
• Planned money laundering via cryptocurrency transactions
•Chose Wales as the location, calling it “calm”
One gang member wrote:
“If gun Feds come, Itay is cooked because I’m not going to pen without either his bread or his soul.”
Messages also revealed deeply antisemitic motivations, including claims that Kashti made his money from ‘taking Palestinian land’.
Brutal Attack and Hostage Situation
Mr Kashti, unaware of the trap, travelled from London in a pre-arranged taxi. Upon arrival, he and the cabbie were ambushed:
• The taxi driver was struck in the face but managed to flee and call police
• Mr Kashti was punched, kicked, and restrained by men wearing ‘Anonymous’-style masks
• He was handcuffed to a radiator and threatened with death
However, the kidnappers quickly fled, fearing police were on their way.
Escape and Police Response
After realising he was alone, Mr Kashti managed to free himself from the radiator, retrieved his phone, and escaped into nearby bushes, where he called his wife.
Meanwhile, police arrived at the scene, finding the property empty, but discovering:
•An imitation firearm left behind
•Messages on Sime’s phone showing attempts to arrange an escape
A major search operation was launched, including a police helicopter, and the gang was later found hiding in fields.
Sentencing: Judge Condemns ‘Utterly Abhorrent’ Motivations
All three men pleaded guilty to kidnap at the start of their trial.
Judge Catherine Richards sentenced each of them to eight years and one month in prison, stating:
“Anyone hearing the facts of this case and the motivation for it would be horrified. The victim was targeted because of his Jewish heritage, which is utterly abhorrent to any right-thinking individual.”
She highlighted their antisemitic justification for the crime, adding that their attitudes treated Mr Kashti as “less worthy of respect and compassion.”
The defendants will serve two-thirds of their sentences in custody before being released on licence.
CPS Praises Victim’s Bravery
Following sentencing, Michael Cray, senior prosecutor for CPS Cymru, said:
“These defendants made detailed plans on how to execute their crime and get away with the money. Fortunately, they failed. This must have been truly terrifying for the victims, who had no idea they were walking into a trap.”
“We thank them for supporting this prosecution and hope that justice brings them some closure.”
Ongoing Concerns About Antisemitic Attacks
The case has raised serious concerns about antisemitic hate crimes in the UK, highlighting the dangers of targeted religiously-motivated violence. Authorities continue to urge the public to report suspicious behaviour and remain vigilant against hate-driven attacks.
