A 34-year-old man who worked illegally for eight years using a false identification card received a 14 month suspended sentence and a €600 fine at Galway District Court this week.
Algerian national Samar Benchadi with an address at 7 Century Apartments, Emerson Avenue, Salthill, Galway, appeared in court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to being in possession of a fraudulant ID card and using the card with the intention of inducing another to accept it as genuine on dates unknown between January 1, 2003, and July 31, 2008. He also pleaded guilty to the charge of entering into the services of an employer in the State other than in accordance with an employment permit issued by the Minister of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, on a date unknown between April 1, 2002, and July 31, 2012.
Garda Robert O’Reilly gave evidence that Benchadi had arrived in the country and applied for asylum some time in 2000. He then took possession of an Italian identity card, bearing the name of Salvatore Branaccio, which allowed him to receive a PPS number and gain employment in a Galway based company until May 2008. Garda O’Reilly explained that as well as receiving a weekly allowance from the State Benchadi had also earned approximately €131,000 during the eight years of working for this company despite having no employment permit.
The court heard that when gardai searched the defendant’s house they could not find the identification card as it had been disposed off. Garda O’Reilly then explained that Benchadi, who has no previous experience, is now legally living and working in this country having since married a French national. However the court later heard that his deception could have consequences for his current status as it is due for review.
Defence solicitor Colin Lynch said that his client had co-operated fully with gardai and that despite working while being on asylum seeker status Benchadi paid tax in relation to this additional earnings. “He was endeavouring to get on with his life... he was suffering from depression and needed to keep himself occupied at the time,” said Mr Lynch to which Judge Mary Fahy replied: “He shouldn’t have done what he did.”
Judge Fahy then noted that the money he had been receiving from the State was “for genuine asylum seekers”. Benchadi was then convicted and sentenced to 14 months suspended for a period of three years on condition that he enter into a bond of €500 to be of good behaviour and was fined €600 with six months to pay.
