Man claimed €30,000 in disability allowance using someone else’s identity

A DUBLIN resident was told by a judge that he can expect a jail sentence for using another person’s identity and PPS number to claim more than €30,000 in disability allowances.

Mohamed Moulkhaloua with an address at Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 pleaded guilty to two charges at Dublin District Court after a prosecution was brought against him by the Department of Social Protection.

Judge John O’Neill described it as a “serious matter” and said it should be explained to Moulkhaloua “that he is facing a custodial sentence”.

He has admitted that on January 2, 2008 he contravened section 188 of the social welfare regulations by using another person’s identity to give him an entitlement to disability allowance.

Moulkhaloua also pleaded guilty to using someone else’s PPS number on the same date for the purpose of gaining employment at a business in south Co Dublin.

A solicitor for the Department told Judge O’Neill that the total fraud amounted to €31,305 and so far Moulkhaloua has paid back €2,245 leaving a balance of €29,060 outstanding.

The Department’s lawyer said the case differed from others in the manner in which a PPS number was used.

It was the third date that the matter was before the court and the defence lawyer told the judge that Moulkhaloua, who remained silent during the hearing, had been repaying €25 every week to the Department of Social Protection. But the barrister added that he has increased his repayments to €35 a week.

Judge O’Neill also heard that Moulkhalouawas asking for a six-month adjournment.The case was adjourned until a date in October when the court will review the progress he is making in paying the money back.