TWO ROMANIAN men who were part of a skimming gang have been sentenced to five years for laundering €76,020 and possessing a camera device used in the scam.
Vasile Martin and Costel Asimioanei had also been sentenced last month for their role in the operation in which the President’s husband, Dr Martin McAleese, had his ATM card skimmed by some of the group who later created a copy of his card and used it to withdraw €5,000 from his account. Martin (36) of no fixed abode and Asimioanei (28) of Dara Court, Celbridge, both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three sample charges each of knowingly or being reckless as to whether cash was the proceeds of crime removing it from State with intent to conceal its true nature at various locations in Dublin on dates between August 5th and December 15th, 2009.
They also admitted possession of a camera device with the intention that it would be used in connection with theft at Ulster Bank, Terenure on November 20th, 2009.
Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Asimioanei to 10 years for the possession of skimming equipment and the theft last month.
He suspended 6½ years of the term on condition Asimioanei leaves the country for 10 years on his release.
Martin was sentenced to five years with the last 18 months suspended on similar conditions for theft and possessing of skimming equipment.
Judge Yvonne Murphy said yesterday that gardaí were “to be congratulated for the pursuit of this crime and bringing the culprits to justice”. She described it as a sophisticated operation which involved a large deal of money but accepted Garda evidence that neither Martin nor Asimioanei were “the ring leaders”.
Judge Murphy said she was satisfied that had the offences been dealt with by Judge Nolan last month, along with the others, that their sentence may not have been any different.
She sentenced both men to five years in prison with the last 18 months suspended on condition they leave Ireland upon their release and not return for 12 years. She ordered that the sentences be served concurrently to those imposed in February.