A “devoted father” had €64,195 in laundered money in his bedroom which was discovered after Gardaí received confidential information in respect of the offence.
Chesing Wang (37) of Avonbeg Gardens Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty to a charge of money laundering contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
Detective Garda Mark Berry of Tallaght Garda station gave evidence that on the 16th of July 2023 the address of the accused was the subject of a search warrant.
When Gardaí arrived at the house, Wan, was the “sole occupant” and made admission that there was cash on the premises when officers asked him if they would find anything before commencing the search.
£2,180 and a number of mobile devices were also found.
After two of the phones were analysed using Cellbrite communications were discovered between the accused and “multiple people” from whom he was arranging collection of various amounts of cash.
The cash was being held in amounts, some of which were €10,000 and €15,000, with Wan sending serial numbers from specific bank notes as a means of confirmation of deposit.
He was arrested and conveyed to Tallaght Garda station where he gave “no comment” answers during the interview.
The court heard Wan, who spent much of his earlier life in Rathfarnham, has 4 previous convictions, 2 of which are for breaches of the Road Traffic Act.
The accused has “a number of children” and left formal education at the age of 13 after his mother, a native of Taipei, passed away from cancer.
His bereavement caused him to develop drug and alcohol issues, the court heard.
Letters submitted to the court as character references for the accused said he was a “devoted father”, with medical certificates setting out that he suffers from a “personality disorder” and may have ADHD.
His father, a native of Hong Kong, is in Ireland and has a number of other children who are the half-siblings of the accused, his defending counsel said.
After leaving school at 13, he began working as a chef in Chinese restaurants at the age of 15, and was at some stages working 12 hour shifts while helping his aunt make deliveries from her business after her van broke down.
Judge Orla Crowe asked Detective Garda Berry what scale he would place the level of offending at, to which the detective answered that it was on “the lower end of the scale”.
Judge Crowe ordered a probation report, and put the matter back to the 23rd of October next for finalisation.