Palma: Woman Sentenced to Probation – Over €35,000 Swindled with an Invented Partner Story

Probation instead of prison – and a repayment plan

On Wednesday morning, in the rather sober courtroom in Palma, the judge pronounced the verdict: 21 months of probation. No prison cell in sight. Instead, she must repay the stolen sums in installments. At first glance, that sounds like a mild outcome. For the victim, it was not.

How the fraud unfolded

The scheme, as alleged, was simple and tragic at the same time. The defendant claimed to have a steady partner who had been arrested at Palma airport for gold smuggling. He urgently needed money for bail and a lawyer, she told the man. He believed her and transferred larger sums abroad over several months – totaling more than €35,000.

The description echoes old fraud cases, only the means are more modern: rapid transfers, urgency stories, and an address that could not be verified. The supposed partner did not exist according to the trial. The woman eventually confessed to the acts.

What the verdict means

21 months on probation means: as long as the convicted person does not commit further crimes and makes the repayments, the deprivation of liberty is not applied. In addition, she must repay the loot in installments to the victim. Details of the repayment plan were not publicly disclosed in full – common in such proceedings to protect privacy.

The judge stressed in the reasoning that the victim's trust had been exploited. You could almost sense the gaps between the lines: remorse, but also intent.

An impression of the scene

Palma is not large, and stories like this lie close by: cafés on the Rambla, emails, short phone calls. I sat outside in the sun briefly after the verdict today, next to an older couple who shook their heads at the newspaper. Such cases shake people. Not only the victims, but also residents and guests who come here.

Important lesson: Distrust protects

The simple lesson is: Distrust can be useful at times. Anyone transferring large sums abroad on short notice should check carefully. Banks and police advise: stay calm, gather receipts, file a report. Often a call to friends or family helps before emptying the account.

For the man in this case, the memory of lost money remains – and the hope that the installments at least partially make up for the damage. The judiciary has sent a signal, but such feelings rarely feel completely fair.

If something similar happened to you: contact the local police in Palma and reach out to your bank. Document transfers and messages – this helps in court.