A Longford businesswoman who pleaded guilty to what a judge called a 'calculated crime of deception' will avoid jail if a report finds she is suitable for community service.
52-year-old Syeda Mukhtar, with a former address at Main Street Elphin, pleaded guilty to her role in an attempted insurance fraud scheme worth over €30,000.
At Roscommon Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford heard that a burglary was reported at the accused's home in January 2017 with a claim made to insurance company RSA in early February.
A list of items allegedly stolen was provided to the company including cameras and lenses,, jewellery and designer clothes with the total value of items to be claimed against the insurance worth just over €32,000.
Receipts for the items were provided to the insurance company and shortly afterwards an investigation began into their validity with Gardai also alerted.
The accused was then arrested at her home and admitted that a third party, a Mr Alexis, had created the false documents as she did not have receipts for the stolen items which she claimed were bought in 2015.
In a later garda interview she then admitted knowing the documents were false and was charged with attempted theft by deception as well as using false instruments.
The court heard the 52-year-old runs a business in Longford with her husband and had no previous convictions.
Judge Francis Comerford said the crime was not a spur of the moment incident and there was a 'high degree of pre-mediation' and it was a 'calculated crime of deception'.
He imposed a jail sentence of year in prison for attempted theft by deception and two years four months for the false instruments charges with the sentences to run concurrently.
However he indicated that if a probation report suggested she was suitable for community service, he would impose 190 hours in lieu of the prison terms and adjourned the matter until February.
