Courts / Dublin / Report
No jail for 'serious' social welfare fraud
Summary
A 37‑year‑old man named Mohammed Hamad was found guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of ten counts of theft of various social welfare payments between May 2009 and October 2013, and two counts of using a false document. He had claimed more than €65,000 in rent allowance, job seekers allowance and basic supplementary allowance. The court noted that he had taken over a dry‑cleaning business lease in 2013, using a loan and savings, some of which came from the fraud, and that he had ceased claiming the welfare payments after his status changed. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended custodial sentence of three and a half years, suspended in full on the condition that Hamad pays €30,000 to the State within three years. He has no prior convictions and is now employed, having opened eight branches of the shop and repaying €35,000 of the stolen money.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: No jail for 'serious' social welfare fraud. Charges or matters: ten sample charges of theft of rent allowance, job seekers allowance and basic supplementary allowance on dates between May 2009 and October 2013; two charges of using a false document. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 2009 Incident
- October 2013 Incident
- August 2016 Other
- 2020-12-21 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: ten sample charges of theft of rent allowance, job seekers allowance and basic supplementary allowance on dates between May 2009 and October 2013; two charges of using a false document (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan said usually such "planned deceptions" warrant a custodial sentence but said in this instance he is not going to imprison Hamad. He sentenced Hamad to three and half years in prison which he suspended in full on condition that within three years he will have paid the outstanding amount, of €30,000 to the State.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request