Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 5583Fraud (theft of students' college fees) · Co. Dublin

Man jailed for defrauding foreign students of college fees

Raul Ramirez Rodriguez, 36, was sentenced to 18 months in jail with the final nine months suspended for defrauding 18 students of almost €30,000 intended for their college fees. The court heard that €18,050 had been repaid and about €10,900 remained unpaid.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA Mexican businessman was sentenced to 18 months in jail with the final nine months suspended for defrauding 18 students of almost €30,000 intended for their college fees. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe students transferred between €1,200 and €3,800 each to Ramirez Rodriguez's company Travel Now as payment for their fees. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeInstead of booking places, Ramirez Rodriguez used the college fees to pay debts from a failed restaurant business. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtRamirez Rodriguez was sentenced by Judge Orla Crowe at the Criminal Courts of Justice after pleading guilty. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtEarlier in the year the judge had given Ramirez Rodriguez time to repay the money. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe mitigating factors included payment of €18,050 as a token of remorse, return to Ireland from Mexico by arrangement, full admissions to gardaí, and an early guilty plea. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered the €18,050 handed over by Ramirez to be divided pro rata among the 18 injured parties. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA total of €18,050 had been provided, and about €10,900 remained unpaid. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge noted that many of the students were severely affected by the deception. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMahsun Karakoyun said outside court that he did not think the sentence was severe enough. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jun2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man jailed for theft of foreign students’ course fees

    Sentencing at the Criminal Courts of Justice. Judge Orla Crowe ordered the €18,050 already handed over to be divided pro rata among the 18 injured parties. No existing case matches this one.

    convicted, Raul Ramirez Rodriguez, 36, male, Mexican, named, non-irishRaul Ramirez Rodriguezvictim, Mahsun Karakoyun, maleMahsun Karakoyunvictim, Abigail Acosta, femaleAbigail Acostavictim, Maria Fernanda, femaleMaria Fernanda