Courts / Leitrim / Report

Farmer tells trial of "fictitious" bank letter

Summary

A farmer from County Galway has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a man charged with money laundering and related offences. The witness told the court that he had sought assistance in securing a €15 million loan to restructure substantial debts accrued through land purchases. He said he paid €28,000 to obtain purported proof of funds, but later received a fictitious letter from Irish Nationwide Bank bearing the signature of Simon Magnier, falsely confirming he and his father held over €961,000 in an account. The witness stated they had never banked with Irish Nationwide and the loan did not materialise. Simon Gold, aged 54, from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments alleged to have occurred between January 2010 and October 2012. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Farmer tells trial of "fictitious" bank letter. Charges or matters: 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments on dates between January 1, 2010 and October 22, 2012. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• January 1, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 22, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• Christmas Other
• 2019-05-30 Publication

Why: He said he had arranged to get a loan of €15 million from Leicester Capital, but that he needed to prove he had access to €800,000 in order to secure the loan. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Fraud Stage Trial Theft

Related court reports

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• 'Psychic' Gold further sentenced on fraud charges
• "Devious" psychic who laundered €1.6m is jailed
• "Psychic" guilty of €1.6m deception
• Jury deliberating in psychic's money laundering trial
• Psychic "is not Walter Mitty", prosecution tell deception trial

Read the original CNI report