Courts / Dublin / Report
Algerian who fraudulently claimed over €62,000 in social welfare payments is jailed
Summary
Kamel Mahiou, 45, of Rathgar, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a false driving licence, making a false statement to Social Protection and stealing €62,000 in social welfare payments. He fraudulently claimed job seekers allowance, job seeker's benefit and rent allowance between March 2009 and August 2014 using a fake French identity. Mahiou obtained a French passport and driving licence in the UK, applied for a PPS number with his Algerian passport and a tenant's letter, and used the same phone number across all applications. French authorities confirmed the documents were fake and the person did not exist. He was arrested, admitted the fraud, and expressed remorse. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, noting his illegal entry into Ireland and the seriousness of defrauding the State.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Algerian who fraudulently claimed over €62,000 in social welfare payments is jailed. Charges or matters: possession of a false driving license, making a false statement at the office of Social Protection and stealing rent allowance, job seekers allowance and job seeker's benefit on dates between March 2009 and August 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 2009 Incident
- August 2014 Incident
- January 2011 Other
- September 2014 Other
- 2015-05-20 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of a false driving license, making a false statement at the office of Social Protection and stealing rent allowance, job seekers allowance and job seeker's benefit on dates between March 2009 and August 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said it was a serious matter to defraud the State of this money and Mahiou must undergo an immediate custodial sentence.
Places mentioned
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