Found letter, arrested in Belarus

Foreigner uses found bank card for restaurants and shopping, now under investigation

A 32-year-old foreign citizen, with no criminal record, is accused of theft through modification of computer information after finding a smartphone with a bank card inside its case and using it to pay several personal expenses.
The case has been transferred to the Frunzensky district court in Minsk.

The man had been in Belarus for about four months, living off casual jobs. One evening in July 2025, he entered a store and noticed a mobile phone left near the luggage racks. Inside the case was a bank card. He took it with him, threw away the phone, and started using the card.

With that card, he paid for a fast food order, public transport ticket, time at a computer club, and some shop purchases, for a total of seven transactions and 217.18 rubles.

The owner, realizing he had forgotten his phone, returned immediately to the store. Thanks to surveillance cameras, security identified the thief as another customer. Shortly after, the police tracked down and arrested the foreigner.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, the defendant was not formally employed in Belarus and had no prior criminal record. He was charged with theft by modifying computer information under article 212, part 1, of the Belarusian Penal Code. He fully admitted his guilt but did not compensate for the damage.

He has been placed under preventive detention pending trial.

📌 Why this case matters for foreigners

In Belarus, using a found bank card — even just for a few purchases — is considered a serious crime, comparable to aggravated computer theft.
👉 It doesn’t matter if the card was “found” or if the amount is small: any unauthorized use is legally punishable.
👉 Penalties can include large fines and even preventive detention, as in this case.
👉 Cooperation with the police and confession do not automatically erase criminal liability.