Фото: Maria Ziegler, unsplash.com
A court in Brest has sentenced a 20-year-old local resident to three years and three months in prison for fraud that affected 11 people. The total amount of damage exceeded 14,000 rubles.
As reported by the Prosecutor General’s Office, the man had previously been convicted several times. From August 2025 to April 2026, he posted advertisements on an online marketplace offering to rent out an apartment owned by his father. At the same time, the accused lived in the apartment with his wife and had no intention of vacating it for tenants. After receiving money from people in cash or by bank transfer, he promised that the apartment would soon be vacated and available for occupancy. When this did not happen, the man made up reasons to explain the delay.
Later, he posted another advertisement, this time offering a music speaker for sale at a below-market price. He did not actually have the speaker, but used the purported sale to obtain money from a buyer.
The man spent the money he received on personal needs and returned some of it to previous victims.
The Leninski District Court of Brest found the man guilty under Parts 2 and 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code, concerning fraud committed repeatedly and on a large scale. He was sentenced to three years and three months in prison and fined 50 basic units (2,250 rubles).
The verdict has not yet entered into force and may be appealed or challenged through the appellate procedure.