Man who defrauded State of €60,000 receives suspended sentence

An Angolan father of five who defrauded the State of €60,000 after he signed on the dole while working in a Dublin hotel has been given a suspended sentence on condition that he refund the money.

Ernesto Capitao (aged 39) of Corduff Grove, Blanchardstown, signed up for unemployment assistance on February 18, 2003 under the fake name of Louis Pedra Sebastiano and using a bogus PPS number. He had been earning €300-350 gross per week at Wynnes Hotel at the time.