Woman facing 19 social welfare fraud charges in Donegal to stand trial - Donegal Daily

A book of evidence has been served on a woman accused of social welfare fraud in south Donegal.Oksana Borovtsova, a 50-year-old of Atlantic Point Apartments in...

A book of evidence has been served on a woman accused of social welfare fraud in south Donegal.

Oksana Borovtsova, a 50-year-old of Atlantic Point Apartments in Bundoran, appeared before Ballyshannon District Court.

Borovtsova is facing a total of 19 charges relating to a total of €5,156.

Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has consented to the accused being sent forward to the next sitting of Donegal Circuit Court.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham made an order returning Borovtsova for trial. The alibi warning was administered and a section 56 order, relating to interviews, was also made.

A previous court hearing was informed that the defendant could also go forward on a signed guilty plea.

Borovtvova, who was aided by an interpreter in court, was represented by Barrister Mr Dimitry Grinberg BL.

Accepting that solicitors were currently on strike, Mr Grinberg asked if legal aid could be granted and not assigned. The barrister added that he would be asking for a Russian translation of the book of evidence.

Judge Cunningham advised that this can be explored when it goes forward to the Circuit Court.

Borovtsova is charged with nine counts of stealing cash, the property of the Department of Social Protection, at Bundoran Post Office on dates between November 2024 and February 2025. The amounts concerned ranged from €486 to €972 and these offences are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

She also faces nine charges, relating to the same dates and sums of money, that she signed a Department of Social Protection in the name of another person with the intention that it be used to induce another person to accept it as genuine. Those offences are contrary to Section 25 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Borovtsova is further charged with signing the name of another person on a Department of Social Protection Jobseekers Allowance certification record with the intention that it be used to induce another person to accept it as genuine.

The offence is contrary to Section 25 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and relates to the Social Protection Branch Office in Ballyshannon on February 11, 2025.