Yolo Group Founder Sues Alleged Kidnappers After Attempted Abduction

Summary

• Tim Heath's legal team has lodged a €3.2 million complaint in Estonia.
• Heath was targeted in an unsuccessful kidnapping attempt in 2024.
• The defense team for the accused kidnappers has described the complaint as "utopian."

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Tim Heath, the Founder of Yolo Group, had a distressing encounter with kidnappers in 2024, just days before the opening of the Bombay Club in Tallinn, Estonia. Now, this notable figure in the gambling industry has filed a €3.2 million lawsuit against the four men who attempted to abduct him but ultimately failed after Heath resisted them. According to a report by Eesti Ekspress, an Estonian news outlet, Heath's legal team has submitted a claim to the Harju County Court. They are seeking €3.2 million in damages from the four individuals, a sum that includes compensation for moral damage, the extent of which will be determined by the court.

Heath's civil case meets strong resistance from defense team

Lembit Tedder, the representative for the Australian billionaire, stated that based on international standards, a payment of €1 million would be feasible. However, the defense lawyers for two Azerbaijani nationals—who are the only members of the four-person crew currently in custody—disagreed. Defense attorney Urmas Simon described the claim as

while his colleague, Sven Sillari, maintained that his client would be acquitted in court. Simon and Sillari are representing the Azerbaijani nationals who were captured abroad and transferred to Estonian authorities, where they face both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit from Heath’s team. The attempted kidnapping occurred in 2024, just a week before the grand opening of the Bombay Club, an exclusive $100 million high-roller casino owned by Yolo Group. Heath successfully fought off the four attackers by himself, forcing them to flee on foot when they couldn't overpower him. The incident happened on July 29 in Tallinn’s historic Old Town. A prompt police investigation uncovered substantial information about the kidnappers, including their plan to transport Heath to the Kakerdaja bog, about 65 kilometers from Tallinn. While it's believed they intended to demand a ransom, this remains speculative.

Details of a fifth man involved in the kidnapping attempt are still unclear

The police effortlessly traced the attackers after discovering the passport of one of the four assailants in an abandoned getaway vehicle, which had been rented through the Bolt platform. The hideout where Heath was intended to be taken was also reserved using Airbnb. This left a significant digital trail that aided the police in reconstructing the events. Heath’s legal team has requested the court to seize the assets of the four men allegedly involved in the thwarted kidnapping of the billionaire. Despite the involvement of only four assailants, two remain at large. Additionally, a Georgian national, possibly a fifth accomplice, has been apprehended. This individual, identified as Ilgar Mamedov, has not yet had any charges filed against him in the civil lawsuit submitted by Heath’s representatives. It is unclear whether Mamedov participated directly in the assault on Heath or if he is linked to the group in a different way.