Zanab Ibrahim and Francis Falaye get suspended sentences for money laundering

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

Zanab Ibrahim and Francis Falaye received suspended two-and-a-half-year prison sentences for money laundering at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed the sentences on condition that each kept the peace and was of good behaviour, while Falaye was ordered to pay €1,000 to the Peter McVerry Trust.

The couple pleaded guilty to money laundering on October 31, 2014. The proceedings were reported on 28 July 2022.

The report said €178,965 was taken through an invoice redirect fraud involving payment for construction work at a Tullamore school. Garda Shane Fitzsimons said Ibrahim was responsible for €178,965 lodged in her business account, while €50,000 was later transferred to Falaye’s account. The defence said the original email was not sent by either defendant; Ibrahim’s counsel said she allowed her account to be used rather than taking part in the redirect fraud, and Falaye accepted he should have checked whether the money was legitimate. The report said all but €1,000 was recovered.