Daniel Mordukhov given suspended sentence for false documents and welfare theft

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Daniel Mordukhov received a fully suspended three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 30 July 2019.

He pleaded guilty to having a false Irish driving licence, knowingly making a false application for a PPS number and stealing social welfare payments. The offences were on dates from December 2005 to July 2011.

Judge Martin Nolan suspended the sentence in full on condition that Mordukhov hand over €15,000 he had in court and pay a further €5,000 to the State within three years.

The report said Mordukhov used a false Lithuanian passport to obtain a PPS number, which allowed him to work. After losing work in April 2010, he claimed Jobseeker’s allowance and other benefits totalling almost €24,000. He obtained an Irish driving licence under the false identity in 2013.

Judge Nolan accepted that Mordukhov had come to Ireland out of desperation after becoming involved in a situation he felt was dangerous, and that his reasons for leaving Russia were legitimate. Garda Michael McGreal said Mordukhov had described pressure from Russian authorities in autumn 2004 to entrap drug dealers. The garda accepted that the Russian Embassy had confirmed a criminal investigation and said he had no reason to doubt the account.

Mordukhov contacted immigration authorities and admitted using a false name and nationality. Judge Nolan said the prosecution was based on his own admissions. Garda McGreal accepted that the offences would not have been uncovered had Mordukhov not approached the authorities himself.