Courts / Dublin / Report
'Model citizen' who lived under false name avoids jail
Summary
A Chinese national who lived under an assumed identity for eight years has received a fully suspended four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Wenzi Wang, aged 39, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, obtained a legitimate Northern Irish birth certificate belonging to another person in 2009 and used it to secure an Irish passport under the name Sau Kee Lee. He subsequently acquired a driving licence, taxi licence, Public Service Card and mortgage using the false identity. Wang pleaded guilty to providing a false birth certificate in connection with a passport application at a Garda station in County Donegal in May 2009, and to six counts of deception between October 2010 and April 2017. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false information to a registrar and to possessing an air rifle and garda-style apparel. Judge Pauline Codd noted Wang had paid taxes and committed no offences whilst using the false name. His wife remained unaware of his true identity until 2017. The judge imposed strict conditions on the suspended sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Model citizen' who lived under false name avoids jail. Charges or matters: providing a birth certificate he knew to be false in connection with a passport application at a Garda Station in Co Donegal on May 25, 2009; six counts of deception at locations in Co Dublin and Co Meath on dates between October 8, 2010 and April 18, 2017, and to two counts of giving a registrar false information at locations in Co Dublin on September 7, 2010 and July 28, 2011; possession of an air rifle and ammunition, and to possession of a jumper and epaulettes closely resembling those of An Garda Síochána, all at his address on November 13, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 25, 2009 Other
- October 8, 2010 Incident
- April 18, 2017 Incident
- September 7, 2010 Incident
- July 28, 2011 Incident
- November 13, 2017 Incident
- June 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2016 Other
- November 2017 Incident
- January 2017 Other
- 2022-01-17 Publication
Why: Counsel said his client's wife borrowed money from her friends in order to pay off the mortgage on their house which is now registered in her name only. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: providing a birth certificate he knew to be false in connection with a passport application at a Garda Station in Co Donegal on May 25, 2009; six counts of deception at locations in Co Dublin and Co Meath on dates between October 8, 2010 and April 18, 2017, and to two counts of giving a registrar false information at locations in Co Dublin on September 7, 2010 and July 28, 2011; possession of an air rifle and ammunition, and to possession of a jumper and epaulettes closely resembling those of An Garda Síochána, all at his address on November 13, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Codd sentenced Wang to four years imprisonment but suspended the entirety of the sentence on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
- Brandon Square
- Waterville
- Blanchardstown
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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