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Supreme Court reduces sentence for spammer convicted for pedophilia

Kuvayev was accused of "sexual intercourse with an underage person," "involving in prostitution," and "rape"

MOSCOW, August 23 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Supreme Court on Wednesday redused the sentence for spammer Leonid Kuvayev, convicted for pedophilia. "Given the circumstances, including a change in the charges and the statute of limitations, the Supreme Court reduces the term of punishment for Kuvayev from 20 years in a maximum security penitentiary to ten years in a general regime prison," a court official told Itar-Tass.

The Court upheld the sentence for the second convicted person - Olga Chernokozova.

Kuvayev was accused of "sexual intercourse with an underage person," "involving in prostitution," and "rape." A panel of jurors said he was guilty of 33 of 35 criminal episodes. He was cleared of the charges in two remaining episodes, including one count of rape. Also, the jury said Kuvayev deserved clemency in a number of proven episodes.

Muscovite Olga Chernokozova, 21, found guilty of involving children in prostitution, had been give a four-year suspended sentence.

The Supreme Court met eight civil lawsuits where the injured parties demanded a total of 1.5 million roubles of compensation.

After the verdict comes into force, the money on Kuvayev's arrested deposit will be used to pay the plaintiffs, the Supreme Court official said.

The verdict was read at a behind-closed doors hearing. The trial had been held behind closed doors as well.

According to the investigator, a majority of Kuvayev's victims suffered from various mental disorders. They were mostly girls of boarding schools whom he lured with various presents, dinners at restaurants and other benefits. The investigator noted that the injured parties, due to their mental capability, the mental and emotional state and young age simply did not understand that a crime against them was being committed.

Police began to monitor Kuvayev after his return from the USA. "Kuvayev left for the USA a decade ago, where he became an active spammer, working for pornographic sites as well. A Massachusetts court fined him 3.7 million dollars. Kuvayev then returned to Russia and came under police scrutiny," a Russian police officer said earlier.

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