Czech teen exposed for fraud in Ukraine fundraiser

Prague police detained an 18-year-old Czech national who set up a fundraiser, claiming the donated money would go be used for helping Ukraine, and instead appropriated the funds to cover his own unrelated expenses.

That’s according to Radio Prague International, Ukrinform reports.

According to the police, the young man and his accomplices used the donations for their own needs, including traveling the world, paying for accommodation and groceries.

The perpetrator faces up to eight years in prison.

According to the probe, members of the JSME LIDÉ (We are the People) group had been collecting money in shopping malls and supermarkets in Prague and nearby municipalities of the Central Bohemian Region for months.

"Thus, they exploited the plight of people affected by war in Ukraine and the willingness of citizens to contribute to helping the country. The total amount of damages that we’ve proven so far currently stands at nearly 1.1 million kroner (some EUR 44,000 - ed.), however, we cannot rule out that the damages may be times greater," Prague criminologists said.

A number of reputable organizations, such as the Czech Red Cross, Donio, Adra, Man in Need, as well as the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, have organized a fundraiser to help Ukraine.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, in June the Czech police released the five foreign nationals were detained in Prague after the attack on Ukrainian volunteers. No charges have been pressed.