Digital assets as the subject of crime: problems of qualification of theft and fraud

The article examines problems of criminal-law qualification of acts in which digital assets appear as the subject of crime or are used to conceal the criminal origin of property in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is substantiated that, for criminal law, a digital asset should be regarded first and foremost as a proprietary value rather than pure information. In theft, decisive significance attaches to the victim’s loss of control over the asset; in fraud, to a defect of will be caused by deception or abuse of trust; and in laundering, to financial operations aimed at giving a lawful appearance to the origin and movement of the asset. The current criminal legislation of Kazakhstan already contains norms capable of covering principal forms of encroachment upon digital assets; however, law enforcement requires clearer qualification criteria, a uniform approach to digital traces, and a special methodology of proof. The greatest difficulties in practice are connected with determining the subject of crime, distinguishing secret taking from taking by deceit, establishing the moment of completion of theft, and proving the value, control, and origin of the digital asset. A practice-oriented model for qualification of crimes related to digital assets is proposed.

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