Acquittal Due to Statute of Limitations After Rip-Deal Fraud

The accused met the later victim in Milan in the fall of 2017, who was selling agricultural machinery. He posed as a representative of an Italian company interested in purchasing and promised a purchase price of 250,000 euros, with 30,000 euros to be handed over in cash to exchange large bills for smaller ones.

Gambling Debts as Motive for Rip-Deal Fraud

The 46-year-old was not present at the handover itself. The Burgenlander received a bundle of 500-euro notes, of which only the first was genuine and the rest counterfeit. The accused insisted in court that he was only involved in this one deal. He had 2,000 euros in gambling debts with an acquaintance, which he could not repay. This acquaintance offered to settle the debt by having him act as a translator. As such, he only participated in the first meeting with the victim and made a few phone calls with him. He admitted knowing that it was not a real business deal but a rip-deal, and apologized to the victim: "This is a one-time thing I did, it will not happen again," he said. The acquittal is not yet legally binding.

(APA/Red)

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