He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

Concerning a merchant whom a group of people defrauded, taking a sum of money from him. He brought them before the ruler, who punished them until they confessed to taking the money. They remain imprisoned over the money, but have given him nothing and insist that they will give him nothing.

He answered:

Praise be to Allah. Whoever among them has the money in his possession and refuses to hand it over is to be beaten until he hands over the money belonging to someone else that he holds. Whoever has concealed the money and denies knowing its whereabouts is to be beaten until he reveals its location.

As for anyone suspected of holding the money, when it is not known whether he has any of it, he may be beaten as punishment for the lying and wrongdoing he has committed. He is also to be pressed to disclose where the money is and required to produce it. And Allah knows best.