Money laundering accused, arrested in France jailed for three years

A 56 year-old man was given a three year prison sentence for money laundering after being arrested by French authorities in Paris. Adewale Folerin of no fixed abode was in Trim Circuit Court on 5th March for sentence charged with money laundering.

Detective Garda Kathryn Christie told the court in early 2019 an insurance claim was made by a client of Chubb Insurance regarding storm damage to a house. Engineer services contractors carried out repairs who quoted €31,000 in costs. A first payment of €10,000 was made until a second email was sent on 12th March, which looked as if it originated from the same email as before. It said there was a change in bank details. The remaining €21,533 was deposited into the other account.

The court heard the insurance company was alerted by the contractors they didn’t receive their full payment and a complaint was made. Detective Christie told the court Gardai were made aware and discovered the money went into an account registered to Mr Folerin in Navan. The court heard there was several withdrawals and transfers of the funds including €1,050 transferred to one of Mr Folerin’s son with €3,088 being left in the account when it was suspended. The court heard the contractor was reimbursed by the insurance company who is currently at a loss of €18,000.

A search warrant was executed on Mr Folerin’s home but he was no longer residing there and was out of the country. The court heard he was in the jurisdiction to mind his children and by the time a complaint was made he left Ireland.

Det Garda Christie told the court on 16th October last year the accused was arrested by French authorities at Charles De Gaule Airport in Paris, France when he was coming from Nigeria. He was brought to Ireland and pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Judge John Martin said there was no evidence of coercion or explanation of why it was done and the fact some of the money was transferred to the son suggests the accused had access to the account.

Defending barrister Garrett Charles Casey told the court his client was in Nigeria for a funeral and was in France flying to Dublin at the time of his arrest and didn’t know Irish authorities were looking for him.

He is originally from Lagos in Nigeria and came with his wife to Ireland in 2003 who he had three children with but they later separated. He was in homeless accommodation at the time which made it difficult for gardai to locate him.

BL Casey told the court his client wanted to recompense the insurance company but is on a low wage.

Judge Martin said he accepts Mr Folerin’s apology but “very often actions speak louder than words,” and noted the lack of compensation in court.

The judge said “not one penny of recompense is being offered to this court”.

- Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme