Courts / Dublin / Report
Chinese national paid €22k for false passport documentation
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Chunling Chen of Walkinstown pleaded guilty to providing false or misleading documentation in a passport application and to possessing a false Irish nationalisation certificate. She had paid €22,000 to obtain the documents, believing the operation was legitimate. Chen had been in Ireland since about 2008, was illegal in 2015 when she applied for a passport, and had never registered with immigration. Gardaí discovered the false certificate at her address in 2018. The court noted an element of victimisation, citing her desire to see her son in China and her recent childbirth of twins, one of whom died. Judge Pauline Codd described the operation as "somewhat exploitative" but accepted that Chen did not know it was illegal. She was sentenced to two years imprisonment, fully suspended.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Chinese national paid €22k for false passport documentation. Charges or matters: providing false or misleading documentation during a passport application at the Passport Office, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, on October 29, 2015; possession of a false instrument, to wit a false Irish nationalisation certificate, at her address on July 17, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 29, 2015 Incident
- July 17, 2018 Incident
- 2020-07-23 Publication
Why: A Chinese national who paid €22,000 to obtain false documentation in order to receive an Irish passport has received a fully suspended sentence. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: providing false or misleading documentation during a passport application at the Passport Office, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, on October 29, 2015; possession of a false instrument, to wit a false Irish nationalisation certificate, at her address on July 17, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Codd sentenced Chen to two years imprisonment which she suspended in full.
Places mentioned
Topics
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