Latest news with #GNECB
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (26) accused of €17,000 bank thefts and having personal data of victims
A man is to stand trial for theft valued at more than €17,000 from two bank accounts and possessing a memory storage device with personal information on money laundering victims in Dublin. Joelle Mopiti (26), of Brookview Avenue, Tallaght, appeared at Dublin District Court on Tuesday following an investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB). Advertisement He faces more than 30 charges, mainly for thefts from a man's and a woman's separate AIB accounts, stealing their bank cards, money laundering, and using a false instrument in 2020 and 2021. It is also alleged that he used the man's cards to withdraw cash in varying sums, make purchases of goods in shops and a fast food restaurant, and spend €5,000 on iPhones in stores in Dublin. It is alleged he took out a €3,500 loan in that injured party's name. He is also accused of having €7,000 in proceeds of crime in a Bank of Ireland and an An Post account. Advertisement According to the charges, he stole €4,200 from the woman's account. One charge alleges he aided, abetted, counselled or procured the commission of an offence by possessing a USB storage device which had the personal banking information of individuals who were victims of money laundering. It is also alleged that at an address in Clonsilla, Dublin, he used a false instrument, a fake AIB document. The charges are under the Theft and Fraud Act and the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. Advertisement Ireland Man (41) accused of threatening to burn down woman... Read More He appeared before Judge Cephas Power at Dublin District Court yesterday/today when Detective Garda Michael Harney said Mr Mopiti made no reply to the charges. The GNECB officer said the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court. No plea was entered by Mr Mopiti, who did not address the court. There was no objection to bail with conditions; Judge Power ordered unemployed Mr Mopiti to sign on at his local Garda station three days a week, surrender his passport and not apply for other travel documents and to remain contactable on a phone number he has already supplied to gardaí. Judge Power adjourned the case for prosecutors to prepare a book of evidence and ordered the accused to appear again on September 22nd. Legal aid was granted after the judge noted the man was on social welfare.
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
Former HR company boss Denyse O'Brien granted bail after being charged with 98 fraud offences
She set up Watch Your Back Ireland in 2019 The former owner of a human resources company has appeared in court charged with a total of 98 separate fraud offences. Denyse O'Brien (41) was remanded in custody with consent to bail when she appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday. She was charged with 18 counts of deception, 47 counts of using a false instrument and 33 counts of forgery following an investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB). Three addresses were given for Ms O'Brien, in Tralee and Ballybunion in Co Kerry, and a hostel in Galway. She was arrested in Galway on Tuesday before her court appearance, at which evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by GNECB detective David Comerford. Denyse O'Brien News in 90 Seconds - August 14th Gardaí objected to bail, but Ms O'Brien was granted it on condition that she provides a cash lodgment to the court of €400, along with other conditions. These include that she sign on three times a week at a garda station, be contactable by phone at all times, surrender her passport and keep away from witnesses. The case was adjourned to next Wednesday at Dublin District Court and is expected to be eventually sent forward to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. Ms O'Brien set up HR company Watch Your Back Ireland in 2019, and many of the charges relate to her alleged activities with that firm. Some of the 98 charges she is facing include that under Section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 she used a false email supposedly from an employee of the Workplace Relations Commission in August 2020 'with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine'. She is also accused of using false emails purporting to be from a number of different organisations, including the Office of the Press Ombudsman on December 7, 2022; the Labour Court on two dates in August 2023; and the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochana on August 21, 2022. She is further charged that on three occasions in December, 2022, she used a false email supposedly from an employee of the Courts Service, as well as twice in June 2022 and once in May of that year. Ms O'Brien also faces multiple charges under Section 26 of the Criminal Justice Act including that she dishonestly by deception induced a named woman to transfer €700 to her company, Watch Your Back Ireland, between March 1, 2020, and November 20, 2022. Other alleged deception charges relate to the transfer of sums to her from separate named individuals of amounts including €3,737, €1,600, €935, €720, €420, €310, €305 and €210. Among the other charges are that she used a false headed letter from a named firm of solicitors on two occasions in September, 2022, and another solicitors' firm in June 2022. It is also alleged that she used a false separation agreement on three occasions, in April, 2022; August, 2021; and June, 2023. Ms O'Brien is also charged with using a false document purporting to be from employers' group Ibec 'to induce another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act, to the prejudice of that person or any other person'.
Sunday World
01-07-2025
- Sunday World
Two men linked to Black Axe crime network facing multiple gangland and money laundering charges
It follows a major investigation by detectives from the the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) Two male suspects with alleged links to the Black Axe global crime network are due to face multiple money laundering and gangland charges later today. It follows a major investigation by detectives from the the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB). The two men have been among the fraud squad's biggest targets as part of their massive Operation Skein investigation. The Irish Independent has learned the suspects are linked to a huge romance fraud scam where many hundreds of thousands of euro was stolen from an elderly woman in a European country. Investigations have also linked them to a lucrative romance fraud in another country. Neither suspect is expected to get bail when they appear before court later because of the nature of the criminal charges against them. The charges against the men means that so far up to 20 people have been charged with serious gangland style offences as part of Operation Skein and associated investigations. Black Axe has had a significant presence in Ireland for a number of years, but the GNECB has been involved in a large number of arrests and successful prosecutions against gang members and their associates in recent times. The mafia syndicate first emerged in Nigeria the 1970s when it was involved in ritual murders, but has evolved into one of the biggest fraud mobs operating across the world, often recruiting intelligent gang members such as computer specialists in universities. Many international police forces have visited Ireland to study the pro-active approach taken by gardaí in following the money trail. Called Operation Skein, it has led to over 100 arrests under organised crime legislation, while over 400 people have been arrested for money-laundering offences. In total well over 1,000 people have been identified so far with links to Black Axe and the organisation is estimated to have laundered over €84 million in Irish banks. At present, around 50 per cent of all international requests sent to the Gardai are linked to the area of fraud. Around 20 Black Axe operatives have been jailed in this country so far with many more before the courts and 50 senior gang members arrested. Dozens of money mules have mostly received suspended sentences after being convicted. Some of the Black Axe operatives working in Irish financial institutions who have been targeted by the GNECB in recent years include a man working in a bank who checked accounts for the criminal organisation and then sent screenshots of internal bank systems to a more senior criminal, who was involved in laundering huge sums through accounts in that bank. Garda stock image Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 1st
Sunday World
30-06-2025
- Business
- Sunday World
Barman faces trial accused of possessing €1 million in crime proceeds
Kevin McMahon appeared at Dublin District Court today on 131 charges A barman has been sent forward for trial accused of deceiving multiple individuals in Ireland and possessing €1 million in crime proceeds from 2010 to 2013. Kevin McMahon, 51, with an address at Calle Vincente Inglada, Alicante, Spain, was served with a book of evidence when he appeared at Dublin District Court today on 131 charges. The case stems from a Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) probe. Judge Patricia Cronin noted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed trial on indictment. Accordingly, she granted a return for trial order, telling Mr McMahon his case was being transferred to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where it will be scheduled for mention on October 10. Following an application by defence barrister Barry Lysaght with solicitor Michael French, she granted legal aid to include senior counsel representation. Kevin McMahon Mr McMahon, who has yet to enter a plea, was remanded on bail. He has 21 charges under Section 6 of the Theft and Fraud Act for the alleged deception of 18 people about their financial interests at an unknown location in the State. He also had 110 money laundering under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 for possessing, handling or acquiring sums ranging from €1,000 to €300,025 in several banks or financial institutions with accounts under different names. Kevin McMahon Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 30th GNECB Detective Ciaran Ronan said the DPP had issued the same trial venue authorisation for co-defendant Samuel Elwood, 49, with an address at Roundhill Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who was charged with 11 counts of money laundering involving sums totalling just over €300,000. He did not reply to the allegations and was granted bail after the judge noted there was no garda objection. He received a trial order, and his case will be listed in the Circuit Court on the same date as Mr McMahon's appearance. The judge warned them to notify prosecutors within 14 days if they intended to use alibis in their defence. Prosecutors must also provide the defence with copies of interview videos.
BreakingNews.ie
30-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Barman (51) sent for trial over fraud and €1 million in crime proceeds
A barman has been sent forward for trial accused of deceiving multiple individuals in Ireland and possessing €1 million in crime proceeds from 2010 to 2013. Kevin McMahon, 51, with an address at Calle Vincente Inglada, Alicante, Spain, was served with a book of evidence when he appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday on 131 charges. Advertisement The case stems from a Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) probe. Judge Patricia Cronin noted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed trial on indictment. Accordingly, she granted a return for trial order, telling Mr McMahon his case was being transferred to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where it will be scheduled for mention on October 10th. Following an application by defence barrister Barry Lysaght with solicitor Michael French, she granted legal aid to include senior counsel representation. Advertisement Mr McMahon, who has yet to enter a plea, was remanded on bail, He has 21 charges under Section 6 of the Theft and Fraud Act for the alleged deception of 18 people about their financial interests at an unknown location in the State. He also had 110 money laundering under section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 for possessing, handling or acquiring sums ranging from €1,000 to €300,025 in several banks or financial institutions with accounts under different names. Ireland Man (25) jailed for six years after Kildare pub ma... Read More GNECB Detective Ciaran Ronan said the DPP had issued the same trial venue authorisation for co-defendant Samuel Elwood, 49, with an address at Roundhill Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, who was charged with 11 counts of money laundering involving sums totalling just over €300,000. He did not reply to the allegations and was granted bail after the judge noted there was no garda objection. He received a trial order, and his case will be listed in the Circuit Court on the same date as Mr McMahon's appearance. The judge warned them to notify prosecutors within 14 days if they intended to use alibis in their defence. Prosecutors must also provide the defence with copies of interview videos.
