A 44 year old man has been remanded on bail after he was charged with the theft of over €11,000 following an investigation by gardai attached to the Dept of Social Protection into people making fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Payments.
Bashiru Aderibige, who was born in Nigeria but is now a naturalised Irish citizen, was arrested by gardai from the National Economic Crime Bureau, seconded to the Dept of Social Protection as part of an nationwide investigation into fraudulent claims of PUP.
Today at Mallow District Court, the court heard that Mr Aderibige from Banogue in Midleton was charged with a total of 21 offences of theft, contrary to Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001- he made no reply to any of the 21 charges when they were put to him after caution following his arrest in Midleton early this morning.
The 21 charges allege that Mr Aderibige stole over €11,000 on 21 separate occasions on a variety of dates between July 21st and August 11th this year at nine separate locations around the country.
The state alleges the offences happened at a number of ATMs around the country - - including in Midleton, Cobh, Patrick St, Winthrop St and in Carrigtwohill.
He was remanded on bail under a number of conditions on his own bond of €1,000 to appear in Midleton District Court on January 21st for DPP’s directions while he also granted him free legal aid and appointed solicitor, Eddie Burke to represent him.
