Woman admits money laundering in Laois

A woman who admitted money laundering has been given a suspended sentence. 

Blessing Hamisi, 27, of 16 Waterfront Apartments, Portarlington was accused of laundering the sum of  £2, 682 at her address on July 10, 2020. 

Sgt JJ Kirby described her as a third stage money mule. “There were three involved and she was the lesser of the three,” he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

“She didn’t cooperate with the investigation and didn’t give any reasons,” said Sgt Kirby. 

Solicitor Michael Byrne said his client didn’t benefit from the money laundering. He said one of her snapchat followers asked her for her bank details and she provided them. He said the money that went to her account left the same day. “That third party had control of her account,” he said. 

Mr Byrne said his client had worked as a social care worker and had studied in NUI Galway for a year. She is now studying a similar course in Portarlington, he said. 

“She simply gave out her bank account details and her login details to someone she only knows on snapchat,” said Judge Andrew Cody. “Is that what I am supposed to believe?” he asked.

Sgt Kirby said “she is a qualified woman. She knew exactly what she was getting into.” He said “she didn’t cooperate with the investigation.” 

Mr Byrne said his client accepts that she was reckless but she is accepting responsibility. 

Judge Cody said he found it difficult to accept that an educated woman would give out her details to someone she didn’t know. 

He convicted her and sentenced her to four months suspended for two years.