Courts / Dublin / Report
Romanian jailed for €85k social welfare theft loses sentence appeal
Summary
Stefan Onofrei, a 35‑year‑old Romanian, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stealing €85,000 from the State by claiming social welfare under a false name 463 times between 2009 and 2015. He pleaded guilty to six sample counts of theft of job seeker's benefit, job seeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance, emergency means payment, rent property supplement allowance and family income supplement. The Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against the severity of the sentence. The judge noted that Onofrei had originally been charged with 436 counts, each claim constituting a separate offence. He had used a false ID and PPS number, obtained a Lithuanian passport and driving licence, and claimed benefits while his wife was employed. The appeal was dismissed, and the debt to the State remains to be recovered. The case was heard by Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Romanian jailed for €85k social welfare theft loses sentence appeal. Charges or matters: six sample counts of theft of job seeker's benefit, job seeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance, emergency means payment, rent property supplement allowance and family income supplement between January 9, 2009 and February 10, 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 9, 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 10, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 15, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-01-19 Publication
Why: The Court of Appeal heard that he had originally been charged with 436 counts on the indictment because each time he went to claim a payment using a bogus name, he was committing a different offence on each occasion. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: six sample counts of theft of job seeker's benefit, job seeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance, emergency means payment, rent property supplement allowance and family income supplement between January 9, 2009 and February 10, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on July 15, 2015. He said the court could only intervene if an error in principle was identified and only if the sentence imposed was not one that was available to the sentencing judge.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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