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Court hears of devastating consequences for English language students who fell victim to fraudster
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 18 foreign students who had paid a fraudster, Raul Rodriguez Ramirez, for English‑language courses suffered severe psychological and emotional distress. Ramirez, who ran a legitimate agency from 2018 to 2020, diverted the students' money into a restaurant venture that failed during the pandemic. The students, many from Mexico, Bolivia, Japan and South Korea, were left without course placements, risking their visas, and faced financial hardship—one slept in a church doorway for two nights, another could not travel home to see his mother before she died. They reported being pressured to pay quickly and receiving "contracts" by email, yet their funds were never used to secure enrolment. Ramirez pleaded guilty to inducing the students to pay sums between June 2020 and June 2021, and the judge adjourned sentencing for a week to allow him to gather funds for compensation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Court hears of devastating consequences for English language students who fell victim to fraudster. Charges or matters: inducing 18 foreign language students to pay sums of money with intent to make a gain for himself on dates between June 2020 and June 2021. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- June 2020 Adjournment
- June 2021 Adjournment
- October 2022 Other
- 2023-12-04 Publication
Why: The students contacted the agency in order to secure a college place and paid the fee requested by Ramirez by bank transfer or cash. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: inducing 18 foreign language students to pay sums of money with intent to make a gain for himself on dates between June 2020 and June 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing for one week to allow Ramirez to finalise gathering funds to repay the students.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Stearne House
- Patricks Street
- Dublin
Topics
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