Gardaí have arrested a 50-year-old businessman for questioning as part of an ongoing fraud investigation into a scam in which almost 50 people were duped into handing over sums of up to €4,000 for goods that they never received.
Detectives arrested the man at a house in Clonakilty in West Cork early on Monday morning. In a follow up search of the premises, they recovered €344,000, which they believe to be the proceeds of deceptions by the suspect.
Gardaí have been investigating the man’s activities for a number of months following 48 complaints about his business activities from all over Munster, including counties Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford. Gardaí believe the man’s business activities also extend beyond Munster.
The man, who is from a well known Cork business family, was conveyed following his arrest to Bandon Garda station. He is detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí detain suspects for up to 24 hours for questioning.
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Monday’s arrest and search was a joint operation conducted by gardaí from the Cork County Division and with the assistance of Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda Analyst Service, Revenue & Customs and Cork County Waste Management.
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