All news

Spammer Kuvayev convicted for paedophilia

The spammer will serve the sentence at a tough security penitentiary
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, March 29 (Itar-Tass) —— The Moscow City Court sentenced to 20 years in prison spammer Leonid Kuvayev, who was found guilty of paedophilia on Thursday.

Judge Alexander Zamashnyuk pronounced the court verdict on Thursday based on the jury ruling that found Kuvayev guilty of 33 out of 35 criminal episodes by a majority of votes. He was acquitted of two counts, including raping. Meanwhile, the jury found that the defendant deserves leniency on several proved episodes.

The public prosecutor demanded 22 years in prison for Kuvayev during criminal proceedings.

The spammer will serve the sentence at a tough security penitentiary. The term of sentence began since July 1, 2009.

The second defendant from Moscow, Olga Chernokozova, 21, was found guilty of inciting young women in prostitution, but deserved leniency. The court sentenced her to four years in suspension with the period of probation of three years. The public prosecutor demanded five years in suspension for her.

Meanwhile, the court satisfied eight civil lawsuits for compensations of moral damages to the tune of over 1.5 million roubles. After the verdict takes effect, “the funds, which Kuvayev has on his bank account that was arrested will be transferred as compensations to the injured parties.”

The pronouncement of the verdict as well as the trial was held behind closed doors.

The detectives found that most victims of Kuvayev suffered from various mental disorders, including oligophrenia. The victims were usually inmates of orphanages, boarding schools, whom he seduced with various gifts, restaurant dinners and other things. The detectives noted that the injured parties due to their mental disorders, psychological and emotional condition and their age just could not realize that some crimes are committed against them.

Kuvayev is accused under three articles of the Russian Criminal Code for a sexual intercourse with a person under 16 years, the incitement in prostitution and raping.

The K Directorate of the Russian Interior Ministry reported earlier that Kuvayev was traced down by the law enforcement agencies upon his return from the United States. “Ten years ago Kuvayev went to the US, where he acted as an active spammer, particularly spread the spam with the banners of pornography websites. The Massachusetts Federal Court fined him of 3.7 million dollars. After that Kuvayev returned to Russia and was chased down by the police,” a source in the K Directorate said.

The lawyers of the defendants stated earlier that they will appeal against the verdict in the Russian Supreme Court. According to them, many violations were made during the trial.