Image: OÖN
On Wednesday the man, who had already received a suspended sentence of two and a half years for illegal gambling in the Czech Republic, made a confession at the regional court. He emphasized that he was “not the main person who messes around with the carpet and hat”. In the end he conceded eight months conditionally. The convict announced an appeal, the verdict is not final.
The judge stated that the man was “part of a highly professional group” that was repeatedly prevented by police patrols from continuing to practice their business based on swindle and deception between mid-May and mid-June 2022. Two of the accused’s accomplices were sentenced separately a few weeks ago.
The 35-year-old claimed in his interrogation that he actually lives in Berlin, earns quite well on construction sites and comes to Vienna every two weeks. There he acts as a “stayer” or “animator”, but is never the real player who pulls the money out of the pockets of tourists and gullible locals. He received 50 euros per shift and worked 15 to 20 times in the group.
Source: Nachrichten
