Courts / Dublin / Report

Fraudster given more time to reimburse student victims

Date
2023-12-11

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Raul Rodriguez Ramirez, 36, was found guilty of defrauding 18 international students who paid him to secure English language courses in Dublin between June 2020 and June 2021. He used the money to invest in a restaurant that failed during the pandemic, rather than booking the students' courses. The students suffered financial loss, with each losing between €1,100 and €3,800, and endured hardship such as sleeping in a church doorway and being unable to travel home to see a dying mother. Ramirez pleaded guilty and has no prior convictions. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing to March 21 to allow him to gather the balance of €29,042 to reimburse the victims. He has been in Ireland since his arrest, relying on friends, and has expressed remorse, stating he intends to repay the students fully. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Fraudster given more time to reimburse student victims. 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:

March 21 Adjournment
June 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
June 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
October 2022 Other
2023-12-11 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

Raul Rodriguez Ramirez

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 had adjourned sentencing for one week to allow Ramirez to finalise gathering funds to repay the students.