A detainee is investigated for swindling people out of money for an urgent surgery that his 12-year-old child allegedly needed. His sister and brother-in-law who were on the outside acted as accomplices, IPN reports.

According to the General Police Inspectorate, the victims were identified on social networking sites. The scheme became known when a woman aged 37 informed the police that a person cheated her out of €7,000. The man told her that his daughter needed heart surgery. The money was passed on to the accomplices in installments.

The 30-year-old prisoner earlier got 12 years in jail for drug-related offenses, swindles and thefts. The scams had been documented during five months.

As a result of searches carried out recently in the penitentiary and at the domiciles of accomplices, there were found mobile phones, bank cards, notes and other objects that prove the involvement of these in the commission of the offense.

A criminal case was started over swindle that carries punishment of at most five years in jail.