STRATEGIC PARTNERS
April 22, 2002
MOSCOW - Two leaders of a hackers' group that manipulated Moscow ATMs in an attempt to steal $1 million from foreign bank accounts were sentenced to five years in prison, according to the Kommersant newspaper.
A wave of ATM fraud hit Moscow in 1999 and 2000, causing many banks to shut down their cash machines. More than 6,000 people - mostly foreigners - reported money stolen from their accounts during that time, the Kommersant reported.
Two of the thieves, Zviadi Beria and Vladimir Medvedov, were sentenced April 19. The group's organizer, Yuri Levashov, was given three years, but immediately freed under an amnesty for petty offenders. He cooperated with authorities during the investigation while the others claimed they were not guilty.
Four other defendants were given three-year suspended sentences, according to the newspaper.
