Louth money launderer avoids jail for her part in invoice redirection fraud

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 27-year-old woman who admitted her part in an invoice redirection fraud has avoided jail.

Gwyne Zoe Timajo, The Drive, Highlands, Drogheda, was before Dundalk Circuit Court for sentencing on a money laundering charge, having signed a guilty plea.

She allowed her student bank account to be used for an invoice redirection fraud on the back of which the victim made two payments totalling €14,050 into her account.

The actual loss was €10,159.61 after the bank put a freeze on the account.

Ms Timajo, who has no previous convictions, was directed to complete 160 hours community service within 15 months in lieu of 16 months’ imprisonment.

Evidence was given at a hearing last month that the offence occurred between September 9 and 10, 2019.

Investigators obtained CCTV of ATM transactions and were able to identify the accused when she withdrew €400 while in the company of a man. In other footage he could be seen withdrawing sums of money.

Following her arrest by arrangement on August 11, 2020, she was forthcoming in an interview.

The woman received €400 for her part which she spent on clothes for herself.

A native of the Philippines, and the mother of one son, the defendant had not come to attention since.

She wrote a letter of apology to the victim, who remains out of pocket.

Passing sentence, Judge Dara Hayes said that Ms Timajo had assisted serious criminality and serious fraud.