A computer anomaly, 90,000 euros, and... 18 months in prison.
A 24-year-old Belgian from Ghent took advantage of a technical problem with his bank BNP Paribas Fortis to withdraw money 46 times, without his account being debited.
Result: 90,000
“free”
euros which could land him in prison, reports the newspaper
Het Laatste Nieuws
.
First, the young man withdraws 1000 euros to help a friend finance his wedding.
“I didn't know at the time that the money withdrawal was not recorded, as I don't check my account often
,” he said.
He then withdraws 3000 euros, and
“notices the error in the system”
: no withdrawal is recorded in his account.
He therefore takes advantage of this to increase his withdrawals.
According to his lawyer, the young man wanted above all to
“help a friend finance his wedding party”
which
“cost a lot of money”
.
However, the Belgian gave 30,000 euros to his friend, and spent the rest on himself.
“This is not a deliberate theft”
, nor a
“kind of bank robbery”
, assures the lawyer.
The public prosecutor is asking for reimbursement of the stolen sum, and a sentence of 18 months in prison.
The decision will be made on March 11.