By Joan O’Sullivan
A 36-year-old man, Raul Rodriguez Ramirez, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for defrauding 18 international students of almost €30,000. Ramirez operated Travel Now, an agency aimed at helping international students who wanted to study English in Ireland.
Instead of using the funds, which were meant to book language courses in 2020 and 2021, Ramirez used the money to finance a Mexican restaurant in Dublin. However, the business failed during the pandemic.
Sentencing had been delayed to allow Ramirez time to repay some of the defrauded money. In total, €18,050 had been returned to the court, with €3,000 paid just before sentencing. However, he still owed the remaining funds, though he expressed intent to repay them in the future.
Judge Orla Crowe stated that the affected students came from various countries, including Belgium, Mexico, South Korea, and Japan. These students, mostly in their 20s and 30s, had trusted Ramirez with their hard-earned savings in pursuit of a better future through English courses. Many only discovered the fraud when they learned they were never registered for the courses, with some losing their life savings or even resorting to homeless services.
The amounts taken from the students ranged from €1,292 to €3,800. Judge Crowe noted the significant breach of trust by Ramirez, who was in a position of authority over these vulnerable students. She also acknowledged the remorse he had expressed and the partial repayments made.
Ramirez’s sentence was reduced to 18 months in prison, with the final nine months suspended. Additionally, the €18,050 repayment will be divided pro-rata among the defrauded students.
This case serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of international students and the importance of maintaining trust and integrity in business practices.
