Man claimed covid payment under false identity while avoiding human trafficking arrest

He was tracked down through Department of Social Protection facial recognition technology

Ranking the offence as 'mid-range', the judge suspended the sentence on condition that Musinskas did not re-offend in the next six years and paid the €9,300 he had put aside to the department.

A Lithuanian man hiding from a crime gang and extradition over human trafficking allegations was tracked down through Department of Social Protection facial recognition technology, a court has heard.

Darius Musinskas, 56, who was later acquitted of people smuggling, had unlawfully claimed €17,000 from the covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) under an assumed identity.