A 44-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the theft of over €11,000 following an investigation by gardaí attached to the Department of Social Protection into fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Payments.
Bashiru Aderibige, of Banogue, Dwyer's Road, Midleton, Co Cork, was brought before Mallow District Court charged with 21 offences of theft.
He was arrested by gardaí from the National Economic Crime Bureau.
Detective Garda Eimear Keeshan gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of the defendant who is a naturalised Irish citizen.
She said that Mr Aderibige, who was born in Nigeria, made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution at Midleton Garda Station.
It is alleged that he stole a total of over €11,000 on 21 separate occasions on dates between 21 July and 11 August of this year at nine separate ATM locations nationwide involving figures ranging from €350 to €600.
The offences are said to have occurred at a variety of banks including Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland and AIB at locations in Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Dublin.
The alleged offences involved withdrawals from the banks at locations in Cork city and in the county at Midleton, Carrigtwohill and Cobh.
Other areas where they are said to have occurred included ATMs at Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin, Dooradoyle in Limerick and Barrack Street in Waterford.
Det Gda Keeshan told Judge Brian Sheridan that gardaí had no objection to the accused obtaining bail provided he abided by conditions set down by the court.
These included him signing on daily at his local garda station, residing at his home address in Midleton, surrendering his passport and not applying for a new one, and giving gardaí a mobile phone number on which he could be contacted 24 hours a day.
Defence barrister Paula McCarthy said that her client was willing to abide by the terms of his bail.
Mr Aderibige was granted free legal aid and Judge Sheridan remanded him on his own bond of €1,000 to appear at Midleton District Court on 21 January next.
The directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions are to be given at the next court sitting.
