A model and social media influencer is awaiting sentence after her bank account was used for the transfer of crime proceeds from an invoice payment scam. Karine Lawani (22), a psychology student, with an address at Foxborough Road, Lucan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to money-laundering after “naively” offering help to a man on Snapchat who needed an account. Det Garda John Saunderson told Dublin District Court that €5,430 was transferred into Lawani’s Permanent TSB bank account on February 11th last year. A Waterford-based firm had earlier received an email purporting to be from a supplier seeking payment of an invoice. The firm transferred the money as instructed and on the same date there were two withdrawals from Lawani’s account. Gardaí obtained CCTV evidence showing an “unknown male withdrawing €1,500 from the account” at an ATM in the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. Lawani took out €3,200 from a bank machine on Dublin’s O’Connell Street. Two days later €700 was withdrawn. Snapchat messageDet Garda Saunderson said Lawani was arrested and interviewed in January. She claimed she saw a Snapchat message from a man looking for a Permanent TSB account so he could receive a payment from someone else with an account with…
Read More
Model, influencer and psychology student admits money-laundering
