Man was using fake South African driving licence in Laois

A man admitted using a fake driving licence in Laois. 

Kazeem Alabi(46) of the Montague Hotel, Cappakeel, Emo was accused of using the licence at Cappakeel on April 9, 2022. 

Garda Ross Foy said the defendant was stopped driving a 131DL registered Toyota on the date in question. He produced a South African licence which Garda Foy suspected was fake. He sent the licence for analysis and it turned out to be fake. He said the man had one previous conviction. 

Counsel for the accused said he had bought the licence and genuinely believed it was real. He said the man has since obtained a full Irish driving licence and was currently employed as a care worker earning €250 per week. 

Judge Andrew Cody fined the man €500 and gave him six months to pay. 

“But for a plea of guilty he would have been disqualified,” he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.