Olivia Kelleher
A 39-year-old courier has been charged with allegedly claiming €6,650 in fraudulent pandemic (PUP) payments from the state at the height of the Covid-19 crisis last year.
Khurram Cheema of Zunera Lodge, Pier Road, Kinsale appeared before Bandon District Court in Co Cork in connection with the alleged offences which occurred on dates between April 21st and the September 29th 2020.
Sgt Kevin Heffernan told the court that Mr Cheema was arrested and initially charged with five charges on March 24th last. He made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution and was subsequently bailed.
Stringent bail conditions
Mr Cheema was arrested again at 10.20am today and met gardai by appointment at Bandon Courthouse were he was charged with a further 15 counts of stealing various sums at AIB Patrick Street in Cork. He again made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution.
Gardai made no objection to bail, but imposed stringent conditions. The former taxi driver, who is now a courier, has to surrender his passport, obey a curfew, be contactable by Gardai at any time and continue to reside at his new address in Kippagh, Dunmanway.
His solicitor Graham Hyde said that Cheema, who is an Irish national, had successfully applied for his wife and family in Pakistan to be reunited with him in Ireland. Mr Hyde said his client wasn’t a flight risk.
An application for legal aid will be dealt with at a later juncture as Mr Cheema has to submit a statement of means. Judge Colm Roberts said he was willing to accept jurisdiction in the case. The case will be dealt with at district court level.
Mr Cheema was remanded on continuing bail until his next court appearance on May 20th. The charge against Mr Cheema arose after gardai started investigating fraudulent PUP claims by persons living abroad.
