Besnik Vucaj jailed for €51,000 benefits fraud

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Besnik Vucaj was jailed for benefits fraud at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a two-and-a-half-year sentence, two years suspended, reported on 14 May 2018.

He pleaded guilty to eight deception charges after claiming more than €51,000 in rent supplement and carer's allowance.

The claims were made while he worked with a Dublin construction firm and used two Italian identity cards bought from a former resident.

The court heard that just over €49,000 remained owing, while Vucaj was repaying the Department of Social Protection €100 weekly.

The judge took account of his guilty plea, cooperation, lack of previous convictions and efforts to repay the money.