(AsiaGameHub) – Police report that a Russian man took his friend’s mobile phone while the friend was sleeping, used it to steal funds and gamble online, then destroyed the device.
In an official Telegram channel post, the Omsk Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated the victim was a 58-year-old who worked at a car repair shop in Luzino, a village located in the Omsk Oblast.
The victim informed police that he frequently met two other men at the garage to have drinks together.
The three had planned a drinking gathering on an unspecified February date. When the victim’s friends showed up, they found him asleep, he later told authorities.
One of the two friends— a 50-year-old man— is said to have stolen the garage employee’s phone.
Russian Man Embarks on a Gambling Spree
Authorities stated they arrested the suspect not long after the incident. Following questioning, the suspect is said to have confessed to taking the phone.
Officers noted the suspect had watched and memorized his friend’s pattern lock code. After leaving the garage, the suspect is alleged to have used this code to unlock the phone.
He then is said to have accessed the victim’s sports betting digital wallet, emptied it, and transferred all the money to his personal bank account.
Authorities reported the man used the stolen funds to make multiple losing bets on an online casino site.
Once he’d lost all the stolen money, the suspect is said to have smashed the phone and discarded it in a public trash can.
Police confirmed the suspect confessed to stealing 100,000 rubles— approximately $1,200— from the wallet.
“We have filed theft charges against the suspect and placed him in custody,” an Omsk police representative stated.
Detectives confirmed the suspect has prior convictions for carjacking, robbery, and theft.
Ministry’s Legalization Proposal
Online casinos are prohibited in Russia, yet the Ministry of Finance acknowledges it has little ability to curb their proliferation.
The ministry has put forward a plan to lift the ban and impose a 30% annual tax on licensed operators.
The plan has been highly contentious, but gambling supporters note the proposal has made rapid progress.
Industry insiders indicate lawmakers might vote on the ministry’s proposal as soon as next month.
Earlier this month, authorities announced the arrest of a social media self-help influencer on gambling-related charges.
Perm city police stated the man ran an illegal casino in a basement of a downtown commercial area. During a March 26 court hearing, the suspect “fully confessed” to his guilt and requested bail from the judge.
The court denied the request after prosecutors informed the judge the suspect was a flight risk and exhibited signs of gambling addiction.
This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content.
AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.