Appeal reduces Siberian woman's fraud and theft sentence

On January 27, the Novosibirsk Regional Court reduced the sentence for a Siberian woman convicted of thefts and credit fraud, according to the press service of the courts of general jurisdiction. The criminal case was considered on appellate complaints.

Previously, the Leninsky District Court found Yulia Vasilenko guilty of six thefts causing significant damage (clause «g» part 3 article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), two crimes under part 2 article 159 (fraud causing significant damage), nine large-scale thefts (clauses «v, g» part 3 article 158), one misappropriation (part 2 article 160), and five episodes of fraud (part 1 article 159).

It was established that in 2023, Yulia Vasilenko asked acquaintances for a reward to help her make transfers from foreign accounts. She gained access through their phones to online banking, applied for loans in their names, and transferred the obtained funds to her own accounts.

«In addition, the convict managed to obtain loans from a number of microfinance organizations using fake applications. The victims included residents of both Novosibirsk and the Altai Territory, and the total amount of stolen funds exceeds 5 million rubles (about $56,000, at current rates),» the regional court«s press service reported.

By the verdict of the court of first instance, Vasilenko was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment to be served in a general regime correctional colony.

The civil claims of the victims were partially satisfied; over 1.9 million rubles (approximately $21,000, at current rates) were recovered from the convict in favor of six people. The claims of four victims were transferred for consideration in civil proceedings.

In the appellate complaints, the convict and her defender asked to mitigate the sentence, arguing that the assigned punishment was excessively harsh.

«After hearing the arguments of the parties, the judicial panel for criminal cases of the Novosibirsk Regional Court changed the verdict. In particular, the indications regarding the theft of funds deducted from the victims» accounts as bank transfer fees and funds withheld under insurance programs were excluded from Vasilenko«s conviction,» added the press service.

Also, the appellate court, due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution, released Vasilenko from punishment assigned for committing 5 crimes under part 1 article 159 (fraud).

Finally, Yulia Vasilenko was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months of imprisonment in a general regime correctional colony.

The verdict has entered into legal force.

Earlier, we reported that a Novosibirsk resident was accused of benefits fraud — a statement was written by her ex-husband who took the children.