Trial will ahead in €355,000 alleged ‘romance fraud’ case involving migrant living in Dublin

January 11, 2025 17:00 Anthony Ellis Irish News UP DATED BY WATCHERS JANUARY 2025.

After an alleged “romance fraud” investigation, a father of three has been charged with holding €355,000 in criminal gains and has been put forward for trial, reports The Mirror.

On charges of money laundering, Ayo Egbon, 37, of Broomhill House, Swords Road, Dublin, was placed on bail and prohibited from using “dating and matchmaking websites.”

He was first accused of knowing or carelessly obtaining, holding, using, or converting €255,472 in a Permanent TSB account in his name, which was the proceeds of crime, reports The Mirror.

The lawsuit comes after a Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) investigation into the alleged offences, which occurred between February 2017 and February 2020.

Then, between July 2-14, 2021, he was accused with another crime: having or transferring €100,000 in criminal profits at Fire Financial Services LTD CHQ Building, Custom House Quay Dublin 1, reports The Mirror.

After a postponement, prosecutors served him with a book of evidence, and he made another appearance in Dublin District Court.

Judge Deirdre Gearty pointed out that the DPP had more extensive sentencing authority and had directed trial on indictment at a higher level.

The accused’s case was sent to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where it will be listed for mention on February 27, after she granted a return-for-trial order, reports The Mirror.

Defence attorney Kevin McCrave’s request for Mr. Egbon to receive free legal assistance, including representation from junior and senior lawyers, was granted by the judge.

Mr. McCrave informed the court earlier in the proceedings that his client, who had previously been identified as a novice truck driver, had already lost his job “in relation to these matters,” and that the problem was “hanging over him,” reports The Mirror.

If he plans to claim an alibi during his trial, he must inform the prosecution. The court also ordered that the defence be given copies of the interview footage.

A claim that “these were the proceeds of romance fraud” was made earlier in the proceedings, and the person who was allegedly harmed was from Finland, reports The Mirror.

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