A woman from Râșcani district of Chisinau remained without her apartment, while another woman was dispossessed of a piece of land and a house under construction situated in Buiucani district as a result of personal data thefts. The court found three men guilty and sentenced them to 18, 12 and, respectively, 5 years in jail, IPN reports.

The Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases said the culprits aged between 27 and 42 are from Chisinau. One of them was convicted of swindle in 2017 and is serving time in jail.

The schemes were implemented in 2014-2015. The offenders obtained personal data of owners, including from the Cadaster Office, and sent persons who looked like the victims to the notary with false identity cards. They legalized powers of attorney by which other recruited persons were authorized to sell property.

The last recruited persons were a homeless man and a man with mental disorders. The culprits helped the first man to restore his identity card that was taken from him for debts. To the second man, they bought expensive and presentable clothes for the meetings organized to sell the property so that he looked credible as a seller.

The three men were also found guilty of privatizing an apartment by presenting false documents to the Chisinau Municipal Council. The caused damage was assessed at over 2 million lei.

The prosecutors intend to challenge the sentences of 18 and 12 years behind bars as too mild. The sentence against the third man, who is a person with disabilities, will not be disputed.