Young people in Waterford are increasingly taking part in money laundering scams
A 22 year old man appeared in court last week in connection with a money laundering scam which involved over €45,000 passing through his Revolut account.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Eugene O’Kelly said that young people have been "warned over and over again" about their involvement in scams, and that it would send a strong message if they were sent to prison.
Aaron Mbambi (22), of 76 Abbeylands, Ferrybank, was sentenced last week for using his Revolut account to launder money which was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
The total amount that passed through the account between November 24, 2021 and January 12, 2022, was €45,380.92.
Police in Norway worked with gardaí after transactions were made to the account using Norweigan Krone. Funds from the account were also linked to Portugal and Lithuania.
After being identified by gardaí, Mbambi was arrested at his home and questioned.
He told gardaí that he was approached on Tiktok by a person who asked him to hand over his Revolut account to them in exchange for a modest sum of money.
Mbambi said he agreed to do so and from that point forward he no longer had control over the account.
Gardaí say however that they believe he did still have access to the account, and that transactions were made from the account to his family and friends.
He pleaded guilty to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
He had no previous criminal convictions.
Defence Counsel for Mbambi, Mr. Gareth Hayden BL, said his client was a “young man who made a very, very serious mistake".
He said that his client is part of a local Christian faith group, and that he has been teaching young people about the dangers of money laundering and the impacts that becoming a money mule has on the community.
Testimony letters provided to the court from members of the faith group describe Mbambi as a “devoted Christian” and a “mentor” to younger people in the group.
In his letter of apology to the court, Mbambi wrote that he wants to have a positive impact on Waterford’s youth going forward, and that he wants to spread an anti-cybercrime message.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly said however, that “it might send a better message out to young people if some of them were sent to prison".
Judge O’Kelly said he was “long past the point” of hearing young people tell the court that they believed they were giving their bank account details to other people for innocent reasons.
“Young people have been warned over, and over again” about the dangers of passing their account details to others, he said.
He added: “Some people will go to prison now."
Taking into consideration Aaron Mbambi's circumstances, and his mitigating factors such as his good work history, early guilty plea and polite demeanour with gardaí, Judge O’Kelly sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended in full.
