An Irish politician has been arrested and questioned by Gardaí over an alleged €150,000 business fraud that reportedly occurred nearly a decade ago.
A file is expected to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the case, which also involves other persons of interest under investigation.
The politician was arrested by arrangement with Gardaí on Friday after voluntarily presenting at a Garda station near their home, accompanied by a solicitor.
The investigation focuses on an alleged fraud at a company where the politician was employed before their election to the Oireachtas. The politician is accused of authorizing invoices and payments totaling nearly €150,000 to another person, knowing the amounts were inflated beyond what was owed.
The suspected fraud came to light during a review of accounts, where company officers identified excessive spending in one area of the business. Upon examining related documents, they discovered that payments were authorized by the politician and seemed inconsistent with typical company expenses.
The politician had already left the company before being elected to the Oireachtas.
The individual was detained under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, which allows Gardaí to hold suspects for up to 24 hours before release or charging.
This marks the second arrest in connection to the alleged fraud and deception, believed to have occurred over four years.
Gardaí confirmed that the individual was later released on Friday night after being presented with evidence collected during the investigation. The responses provided by the suspect, along with those of the previously arrested individual, are expected to shape the ongoing inquiry.
While Gardaí aim to submit a file to the DPP, it remains unclear when the investigation will conclude. Authorities emphasized that the inquiry is still ongoing, and no conclusions have been drawn regarding those involved.
