60 hours community service for money mule in phishing
The defendant received an offer via Snapchat to earn a quick buck. The young Ostend resident took the plunge and opened an account with ING at the request of the phishers. More than 2,400 euros from phishing was eventually channeled through that account.
Expensive lifestyle
On February 1, 2023, the Bruges criminal court sentenced him in absentia to one year of effective prison. The man quickly appealed against his conviction, which led to a new trial in March.
The defense shows that the defendant had an expensive lifestyle during the facts. He went out a lot and often bought expensive clothes. “It was an unwise childhood sin,” says lawyer Stijn Leliaert. In those circumstances, the defense asked for a suspension of sentence.
60 hours community service
The judge eventually sentenced the Ostend to 60 hours of community service. If he refuses or does not fully carry out the community service order, he faces eight months in prison. In addition, a sum of money of 1,000 euros was also seized.