Courts / Dublin / Report

Somalian native jailed for trafficking illegal immigrant

Date
2021-04-13
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Farhan Abdirizak, a 40-year-old Swedish citizen of Somali origin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to facilitating the entry into the State of a person he knew or had reasonable cause to believe was an illegal immigrant or intended to seek asylum. He also admitted to possessing a false instrument, specifically a Ryanair boarding pass in a false name. The court heard that gardaí identified a young man at Dublin Airport in November 2020 travelling under false documentation. Abdirizak alleged he was assisting his "nephew" to travel from Somalia via Greece to Ireland, denying any financial motive or trafficking intent. Prosecution evidence indicated no suspicious money transfers or links to terrorism or sexual exploitation. Defence counsel noted Abdirizak had sought asylum in Sweden in 2007 and worked as a teacher helping refugees. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a prison term of two and a half years. She suspended the final year of the sentence and backdated the effective custody period to November, when Abdirizak was taken into custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Somalian native jailed for trafficking illegal immigrant. Charges or matters: facilitating the entry into the State of a person whom he knows or has reasonable cause to believe to be an illegal immigrant or a person who intends to seek asylum. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Farhan Abdirizak

Defendant

Charges: facilitating the entry into the State of a person whom he knows or has reasonable cause to believe to be an illegal immigrant or a person who intends to seek asylum (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She suspended the final year and backdated the sentence to last November, when Abdirizak went into custody.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Journey Or Route

Topics

Airport Incidents Stage Sentence

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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