Courts / Dublin / Report

Money mule avoids jail for role in €8.5k phishing scam

Date
2025-03-10
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Nathan Ndaba, 26, of Coolmine, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to money laundering €8,500 on August 15, 2019. The court heard that an injured party fell victim to a phishing scam, resulting in an unauthorised transfer to Ndaba's account. Garda Darragh Cash testified that Ndaba was approached by a man known as "Black John" to use his account, though another individual later attempted to withdraw the funds. Under cross-examination, the garda acknowledged Ndaba's peripheral role, his early plea, and that the full amount was recovered. Judge Nolan noted Ndaba's 29 previous convictions for road traffic offences and failing to appear, but accepted his defence counsel's mitigation that these were not of a similar nature. The judge stated that the appropriate sentence was 20 months, which he suspended in full on strict conditions. Additionally, Ndaba was ordered to pay €1,000 to gardai for application to a charity within three months. The judge remarked that providing one's bank account to others indicates wrongdoing, and the fine was intended to remind Ndaba not to re-offend.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Money mule avoids jail for role in €8.5k phishing scam. Charges or matters: money laundering €8,500 on August 15, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Nathan Ndaba

Accused

Charges: money laundering €8,500 on August 15, 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: His defence counsel said there had been a lot of media publicity around such cases recently to which Judge Nolan replied: "If someone asked you for your bank account 20 years ago or two years ago, they are up to wrongdoing." Judge Nolan said the appropriate sentence was 20 months but he suspended it in full on strict conditions.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Residence
Incident
Garda Station
  • and taken to Sundrive Garda Station

Topics

Fraud Road Traffic Stage Sentence

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