The security head of a London hotel yesterday told a Cork court that if a customer had spent more than £200,000 over a period, as claimed by a defence witness, the hotel would have a record of it.
Mr Aidan Williams, of the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, was giving evidence in a money-laundering trial at Cork Criminal Circuit Court. He denied claims by a defence witness, Mr Sven Uwe Palisch, that a business associate of Mr Palisch, Prof Uwe Benne-Kempe of Monaco, had spent in excess of £200,000 at the hotel in the mid-1990s. He also said "in no circumstances" would the hotel be used as a business address.
Mr Palisch had told the court he stayed there regularly. A business card stating: "Sven Uwe Palisch, senior president, International Investment Group, Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane", was produced to the court.
The State claims Mr Palisch stole money abroad and laundered it here. He denies this. Ms Maria Bernadetta Jehle, of Cobh, Co Cork, denies two charges of handling money knowing it was the proceeds of others' criminal activity.