Man told to repay money after letting his bank account to be used in fraudulent PUP scheme

 • 4h ago

A young man involved in a phishing scheme duping the Department of Social Protection to pay out fraudulent PUP applications claimed he had been asked to do it by a friend, a court heard.

Adeolu Adeniji (23) allowed his bank account to be used and the money was transferred into it.

Judge David McHugh adjourned sentencing to a date in July, saying he wanted Adeniji to repay the money.​

Judge McHugh said that if the money was repaid he would impose a four-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The defendant, with an address at Royal Canal Court, Church Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare, admitted money laundering on August 27, 2020.

Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court that the two victims received text messages purporting to be from the Department of Social Protection, saying they were entitled to claim the Covid-19 pandemic payment, and providing details on how they could do so.

Sgt Callaghan said the individuals supplied their personal details and two fraudulent PUP applications were made in their names.

The State paid out €756 into an AIB bank account, and that money was transferred into a KBC account belonging to Adeniji.

Sgt Callaghan said gardaí later obtained a warrant to obtain Adeniji’s bank account details and he was arrested and brought to Leixlip garda station for questioning.

Sgt Callaghan said Adeniji admitted he had received the money from another account, and that he had been asked to do so by a friend.

The court heard the defendant had one previous conviction, previously receiving a suspended sentence for a drugs offence.

His defence said Adeniji wished to apologise to the court for his behaviour, and that he had been foolish to do what he had done.

She said that the defendant was not in a position to repay the loss to the State but was more than willing to do so if he was given some time.

Judge McHugh said this incident had involved a “great deal of complicity”, and it was the State that was at a loss.

The judge adjourned the case to July, saying that he wanted Adeniji to make complete restitution to the State or he faced going to jail.