Man (23) in Waterford guilty of money-laundering €9,008
The woman followed text directions and spoke with a man for half an hour, believing him to be a PTSB employee.
A 23-year-old man has received a suspended sentence for committing money-laundering.
Rwdi Almohamad, of The Malthouse, Stephen Street, Waterford City, committed the offence in late 2024. In October 2026, he appeared before Judge Eugene O'Kelly after making a guilty plea to money laundering.
On November 13, 2024, a woman received a text claiming to be from PTSB related to fraud. She followed the text directions and spoke with a man for half an hour, believing him to be a PTSB employee. She shared her PIN number with the fraudster, who took €9,008 from her account. The money was traced to an AIB bank account belonging to Almohamad.
The victim was refunded the sum instantly via a swift recall. When Gardaí interviewed Almohamad he at first claimed that he had lost his wallet before making full admissions of allowing his account to be used for criminal purposes.
Defence counsel Gareth Hayden, BL, said his client was undergoing a five-year honours degree in architecture but had to drop out after getting into financial difficulties. The accused had no substance misuse issues, came from a supportive family and is now working as an apprentice plumber.
Judge O'Kelly repeated that money-laundering was a "prevalent crime" amongst young people.
Almohamad received a sentence of two years and three months, fully suspended. An apology letter was given to the victim.
