A judge has adjourned sentencing of a mother who pleaded guilty to unlawfully collecting €9,000 in children's allowance payments after she moved back to China.
Yu Shi, a 37-year-old shop worker with an address at Ashfield Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, is awaiting sentence after being prosecuted by the Department of Social Protection.
Dublin District Court heard that the alleged child benefit fraud happened between 2003 and 2008, when she had returned to China. She came back to Ireland with her teenage child two years ago, Judge John Brennan was told.
The charges are under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act.
Judge Brennan agreed and adjourned the case until a date in May.
The court heard she has repaid some of the money but still owes about €5,642 and is paying back €240 a week.
In the District Court, the offence can result in a fine of up to €2,500 and a possible six-month prison sentence in addition to having to repay the social welfare authorities.
The court can only consider leaving defendants accused of benefit fraud without a criminal record if all the money has been repaid.
The social welfare authorities also have a mechanism to continue to recoup owed money even after a case has been finalised.