Graduate posed as friend and collected €2,000 in dole fraud
A SCIENCE graduate agreed to fraudulently collect a friend's social welfare while the other man was out of the country, a court heard.
Achille Lupoyo (29) posed as his friend to collect more than €2,000 on his behalf before he was caught.
Judge Timothy Lucey adjourned the case for payment of full compensation after hearing some of the money had been repaid.
Lupoyo, of Franfurt Avenue, Rathgar, pleaded guilty to the theft from the Department of Social Protection at North Strand Post Office on dates between May 7 and July 9, 2014.
Dublin District Court heard the accused presented himself at the post office 11 times and collected job seeker's allowance, using his friend's identification.
The total obtained was €2,068 and he was caught on the 12th attempt.
Lupoyo, from the Congo, came here 12 years ago and had no previous convictions. He had done a degree in mathematical science.
Lupoyo was helping a friend, did not gain anything hmself from the thefts but "knew what he was doing was wrong", his solicitor Michael Kelleher said.
"He regrets getting involved in this escapade," he added. The court heard his own social welfare had been stopped for six weeks as a result.