Courts / Dublin / Report

Identity theft used in international scheme to launder money through Irish accounts

Summary

In a High Court ruling, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart declared €211,000 held in Irish bank accounts as proceeds of crime. The funds were deposited by an individual using the alias 'Darren H Barnett', who had obtained a UK passport number through identity theft and used it to secure a PPS number in Ireland. In 2012, Barnett opened several Dublin bank accounts and received international deposits, including US$269,000 from a Dubai entity described as "frozen Atlantic Salmon." The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) traced the money to a scheme involving the alias, a fraudulent company named Harglena Global, and false residential addresses. CAB presented evidence that the company was not legitimate and that the alleged home address was unrelated to Barnett. Despite CAB's attempts to serve documents, the alias could not be located. The court, following CAB's evidence, ordered the freezing of the monies under Section 3 of the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Identity theft used in international scheme to launder money through Irish accounts. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 2012 and 2016 Other
• 2018-06-19 Publication

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision Theft

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Read the original CNI report