Waterford woman fined for her role in PUP fraud during Covid-19 pandemic

A woman living in Waterford who pleaded guilty to money laundering offences relating to Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments was fined €500 when she appeared in court.

Andrea Kalejova, aged 36, of The Glen, Waterford pleaded guilty, at Longford District Court to a total of 24 charges.

Judge Bernadette Owens was told the defendant engaged in the converting/transferring/handling/acquiring/possessing or using the proceeds of crime (a Covid 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350) while knowing that the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

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The 24 charges relate to different dates.

Ms Kalejova, the court heard, allowed her bank account to be used by her brother and step brother who are not resident in this country to receive a PUP payment during the Covid pandemic.

The loss to the State was €6,048, and the defendant had paid back €3,000.

Previously, the court was told Ms Kalejova got little benefit from the payments and was not involved in setting up the application, merely assisted by making her bank account available.

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Solicitor Diarmaid Quinn informed the court his client had saved €50 per week from her social welfare to repay the money stolen.

The mother of four children, one of which is non-verbal autistic, made full admissions to gardaí at an early stage of the investigation.

Mr Quinn said his client got “caught up in a scheme during the Covid PUP” and has not come to garda attention since.

Judge Owens convicted the defendant on two of the counts, imposing €250 in each case. The remaining 22 charges were taken into consideration.