A childcare worker who allowed more than €22,000 of criminal cash through her bank account in return for a bottle of perfume has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Umara Ahmed appeared at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged under the Money Laundering and Terrorism Act.
The court was told that Ahmed was approached by another woman who told her this was a wonderful way to make some money.
Ahmed, aged 23, allowed the money come through from a bank in Hungary to her AIB bank account.
Garda Sergeant Gerard Dalton said that out of the €22,900 which came into Ms Ahmed’s account, there was now just over €12,000 left in it.
She was charged with converting/transferring/handling, acquiring, possessing or using the property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct.
The woman’s solicitor, Mr Frank Dorrian, said his client didn’t realise what was happening and the entire episode only lasted a week and that she no longer had the bank card for the account.
He said Ms Ahmed, with an address at The Oaks, Ballaghdreen, Co Roscommon wanted nothing more to do with the account and that she had nominated the woman who had approached her about using the account to Gardai.
“She expects high standards of herself and so does her family. She simply fell into this association,” said Mr Dorrian.
He added Ms Ahmed had a degree in childcare and had taught around the world.
Garda Sergeant Gerard Dalton told the court that of the original €22,900 lodged into her account, there had been just over €12,000 left.
Judge Raymond Finnegan sentenced Ms Ahmed to five months in prison but suspended the entire term telling her she was lucky she was not going to prison.
At the conclusion of the day’s proceedings in court, Mr Dorrian pleaded with Judge Finnegan, asking him to ‘revisit’ his earlier determination.
Mr Dorrian outlined the potential pitfalls for his client in relation to gaining work abroad in the future.
Mr Dorrian said Ms Ahmed had an ‘impeccable and unblemished record from the day she entered primary school’.
His client, Mr Dorrian said, had not gained from the transaction except for a bottle of perfume.
He asked Judge Finnegan to consider the options in view of his client’s character.
Judge Finnegan said that people such as the accused were facilitating criminality. He likened the case to those involving drug mules who, he said, were still ‘a part of the process’.
Judge Finnegan said his original verdict was to stand.