China Returnee Offers To Cough In Rival Companys Office

Story By: Anastasia SmirnovaSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A fitness instructor has posted an advert offering to cough in a rival company’s offices for a fee after claiming he recently returned from China and suggesting he has COVID-19.

However, after being quizzed by the Russian cops, the 21-year-old man, whose name has not been disclosed, admitted that he had not recently travelled to China.

The suspect, from the city of Novokuznetsk in the south-central Russian region of Kemerovo Oblast, reportedly posted an advert on the Russian classified advertisements website Avito.

Newsflash/@bad_novosti

According to local media, the fitness instructor offered to visit any office in the area and start coughing for a fee of 50,000 RUB (528 GBP).

He was reportedly aiming his unusual service at companies who may be looking to nobble a rival business.

After the Avito advert was circulated online, the local authorities stepped in and questioned the 21-year-old.

He reportedly told the officials that he hadn’t been to China and the advert was nothing more than an attempt to make some easy money.

It is unclear whether the man will be investigated further.

Netizen ‘Alexey Burkin’ said: “I hope this guy manages to prove that it was just a joke.”

‘Andrey Vasiliev’ commented: “With new laws, he could get up to seven years in jail. He should be more careful.”

‘Artem Vedernikov’ remarked: “What an idiot.”

According to the Johns Hopkins University, Russia has reported 840 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and just three related deaths.

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