Trial in Feldkirch

Gambling addiction financed with fraud

Although the defendant appeared to be a lame duck in court, she could not avoid a guilty verdict.(Bild: Chantal Dorn, Krone KREATIV)

A woman from the Unterland region with a relevant criminal record was sentenced on Thursday at Feldkirch Regional Court for commercial fraud. Among other things, she had shamelessly exploited a defenceless woman. 

The "criminal career" of the 48-year-old invalid pensioner began in 2016 when she ordered electrical appliances from various retailers in Dornbirn but did not pay for them. Reminders and letters from lawyers had no effect. Until finally the debt collection agency showed up and demanded more than 12,000 euros.

In 2021, the defendant, who had since gone bankrupt, pretended to help a widow with administrative matters, including her widow's pension. However, the criminal paid handsomely for this "help" by constantly coming up with new flimsy reasons for the costs of applications etc. for the overburdened woman. And so the brazen fraudster managed to swindle 50,000 euros from the victim within five months. The unscrupulous woman used the money to finance her gambling addiction.

"Reprehensible, cold-blooded" act
In the jury trial on Thursday, the defendant appeared to be lamblike: "I never cheated anyone," she said. Prosecutor Philipp Höfle saw things differently: "The defendant suffers from a gambling addiction. You walk over dead bodies." The widow's private party representative, Serbil Dogan, used similar words. She spoke of a "reprehensible and cold-blooded" act.

The accused suffers from gambling addiction. You walk over dead bodies.

Staatsanwalt Philipp Höfle

After a brief deliberation, the presiding judge of the panel of lay judges found the defendant guilty as charged: nine months conditional imprisonment and a fine of 2160 euros, as well as an order to undergo psychotherapy. She awarded the victim 40,000 euros. Whether the victim will ever receive the money is uncertain due to the fraudster's lack of means.