A 23-year-old Chinese man has been remanded for sentencing after a jury found him guilty of falsely imprisoning and robbing fellow nationals at gunpoint.
Zhang Da Wei (23), North King Street, Dublin, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on all the charges against him after an eight-day trial in which the jury heard he was the gunman with a Chinese gang who raided a flat in Dún Laoghaire.
Judge Yvonne Murphy remanded him in custody for sentencing on May 21st and ordered the preparation of five victim impact reports.
Zhang had pleaded not guilty to five charges of falsely imprisoning four Chinese men and one woman in their apartment in Clarinda Park, Dún Laoghaire on July 8th, 2002.
He also denied robbing a mobile phone and a bank card worth a total of €405 from one of the men, along with other property, and possession of a firearm with intent to rob.
Mr Paul Greene, prosecuting, told the jury that Zhang carried an imitation 8mm pistol and effectively gave the impression he was the gang leader.
A knock came to the apartment door at about 11 p.m. and the victims were confronted with four fellow nationals carrying various weapons. The gang detained them for about an hour and demanded bank cards, PIN numbers, mobile phones and other property.
Det Garda Fergus Twomey said the gang threatened the victims not to report the crimes to the gardaí but they did go to the gardaí about it. Zhang had been in custody since his arrest.