A woman who fraudulently claimed over €21,000 in Social Welfare Benefits has been warned that she could face prison if she does not repay the money.
Svitlana Karabudak used her friend’s public services card to claim one parent family and child benefit payments from Bundoran Post Office. The opportunistic Karabudak, using a card of her friend who had returned to Ukraine, also claimed a back to school payment.
The 49-year-old was charged with a total of 42 offences, including 16 of theft, 13 of deception and 13 of forgery.
At Letterkenny Circuit Court, Judge John Aylmer accepted that Karabudak – who is now living in Cavan – has been making repayments. The case was adjourned for one year and Karabudak was told that the offences would merit a term in prison if the money was not repaid in full.
Karabudak, who spoke through an interpreter, tendered guilty pleas to seven sample charges; two theft, two deception and two forgery. Last December, Karabudak pleaded guilty to three other sample charges, one each of theft, deception and forgery.
This week, Karabudak pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. The charges were that, on March 9, 2024 and November 9, 2023 at Post Office, West End, Bundoran, that she did steal property to wit sums of €604 and €888 being a Department of Social Protection one-parent family payment and a child benefit payment being the property of the Department of Social Protection.
She also tendered guilty pleas in respect of two charges of making gain or causing loss by deception, contrary to section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
These related to offences at Post Office, West End, Bundoran on the same dates, where she did dishonestly by deception induce a post office clerk to do an act, to wit, pay her a Department of Social Protection one-parent family payment and child benefit payments, in the amounts of €604 and €888, in the name of Liudmyla Rahimova, with the intention of making a gain for herself and causing loss to another.
Karabudak also pleaded guilty to three forgery charges, contrary to section 25 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
These related to offices at Post Office, West End, Bundoran where she did make a false instrument, a Post Office signing docket, signed in the name of Liudmyla Rahimova, with a PPS number, with the intention that it be used to induce another person to accept it as genuine and by reason of so accepting the said instrument to do some act, namely the payment of Social Welfare one parent family payment and child benefit payment in the name of Liudmyla Rahimova to the prejudice of that person or any other person.
Ms Fiona Crawford BL, barrister for the State, told the court that these were without prejudice pleas.
Judge Aylmer heard that the maximum tariffs for offences of theft and forgery is 10 years imprisonment while deception carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Detective Garda Paul Lynch told the prosecuting barrister, Ms Crawford, that the fraudulent claims were made over a period of one year, from March 2023 to March 2024.
He said that gardai were made aware by an inspector from the Social Welfare’s special investigations unit, that a woman, Liudmyla Rahimova, was residing in a bed and breakfast in Bundoran and subsequently left to return to Ukraine with her two children. While it was established that the woman no longer resided at the address, she was still in receipt of payments that were being collected at Bundoran Post Office.
The court heard that Karabudak and Ms Rahimova were friends from Ukraine.
Karabudak was identified and gardai arrived at her address, armed with a search warrant on March 18, 2024.
A public service card in the name of Liudmyla Rahimova was found on her person and seized. Officers also seized €4,100 in cash which was located in Karabudak’s bedroom, bundled together in €50 notes, as well as various receipts from when she collected the money.
When interviewed by gardai, Detective Garda Lynch said Karabudak made full and frank admissions.
She told gardai that she had come to Ireland with her child and her friend left the public services card so that the money could be collected.
Karabudak’s fraudulent actions resulted in totals of €17,056 for the one-parent family payments, €3,840 in child benefit payments and a back to school payment of €520.
In total, the loss to the exchequer was €21,416 over one year.
Karabudak, who has no previous convictions, told detectives that she travelled to Turkey for a weight reduction operation while the money was used for other expenditures, including an operation for her child.
The court heard that Karabudak has set up a repayment plan of €100 per week. So far, €3,556 has been repaid while consent was given in court for the seized funds to be put towards the outstanding sum.
At times through the hearing, Karabudak wept as she sat in the dock.
Her barrister, Mr Sean McGee BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Rory O’Brien, said that his client arrived in Ireland in 2022 due to the ongoing war and she and her son now live in Cavan.
“They live something of an isolated life,” Mr McGee said. He told the court that Karabudak is divorced from her husband and her son suffers from epilepsy, “which seems to have had a rather marked impact on his life. He can live his life but he certainly needs assistance.”
Karabudak is now working full time as a cleaner in a factory and her barrister said that she is making ongoing efforts.
“At the outset, she was completely forthright and she wasn’t behind the door in any way as regards her offending,” Mr McGee said.
“Her reasons were somewhat opportunistic and she saw this as an easy way to recoup more money.”
A probation and welfare report assessed Karabudak as being of a low risk of reoffending and the defendant was deemed suitable for community service.
Judge Aylmer asked if Karabudak intended to remain in Ireland and the court was informed that she did.
“This is home now,” Mr McGee said.
Judge Aylmer said that the best outcome for Karabudak would be to get the money paid in full.
“It is in her interest to accelerate payment,” he said.
Judge Aylmer said he would afford Karabudak an opportunity to continue with the repayment plan and adjourn the matter for 12 months.
“If she wants finality, she should increase repayments where possible,” Judge Aylmer said.
He said that the offending would merit a custodial sentence with a starting point of two years in prison on each count before considering mitigation.
Judge Aylmer said he was anxious to impose a non-custodial sentence, by way of a suspension or the imposition of community service.
He said: “I will hold my hand until all monies are repaid.”
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