Portlaoise man fined for tobacco smuggling
The latest list of tax defaulters was published on 9 December
A PORTLAOISE resident has received a suspended prison sentence for tobacco smuggling.
Robert Gongu of 38 Clonboyne Close, Portlaoise appears on the list of tax defaulters published by the Revenue Commissioners today, for the period from 1 July to 30 September this year.
Listed as self-employed, Mr Gongu was fined €4,000 for smuggling tobacco and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years on entering his own bond of €100 to keep the peace.
Two other Laois residents also appear on the list for misuse of marked mineral oil during the same period.
Fines of €2,500 each were imposed on Jack Carroll, Timahoe, Laois and Shane Daly, Attanagh, Laois for the offence.
Both are described as PAYE workers in part 1 of the list of tax defaulters published on 9 December.
Part 1 involves people where courts have determined penalties relating to settlements or have imposed fines, imprisonment or other penalties in relation to a tax or duty offence.
Nationally, there were 14 cases of misuse of marked mineral oil with fines totalling €30,500, between 1 July and 30 September 2025. There was one suspended four-month jail sentence and one sentence of 100 hours’ community service, in lieu of five months’ imprisonment.
During the same time frame, there were 15 cases nationally of excise offences for tobacco smuggling, illegal selling of tobacco and possession of untaxed tobacco for sale, with fines totalling €34,500.
Four jail sentences were also imposed for tobacco excise offences, involving one three-month sentence, one two-month sentence and two suspended one-month sentences.
