A man will stand trial for depriving a woman of an apartment to the value of over 600,000 lei situated in central Chisinau. In 2004, he came into possession of the apartment and later sold it. He was arrested when he returned to Moldova, IPN reports.

The Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases said that another member of this criminal group was sentenced to 10.5 years in jail in this case back in 2005. The man managed to abscond during 18 years as he had false IDs and moved to Ukraine, being wanted by the Moldovan authorities. He was arrested upon his recent return to Moldova and was remanded in custody.

The accused does not admit his guilt but there is evidence showing that he and the other member of the criminal group who was convicted misappropriated the apartment valued at over 600,000 lei by swindle. The convicted group member rented the apartment and then promised to the apartment’s female owner to facilitate her daughter’s studies in England, asking from her a power of attorney with which he later sold the apartment to his group mate, who later put this up for sale.

The culprit faces 8 to 15 years in jail and ban on carrying out particular activities for a period of up to five years. He will also be tried for obtaining and using false IDs.