The Director of Public Prosecutions v Hector Crespo Blanco

Amount Forfeited

€9,300

Court Date

4 December 2012

Venue

Dublin Criminal Court of Justice

Judge

Martin Nolan

Summary:

On the 4 December 2012 Dublin Criminal Court of Justice ordered the forfeiture to the Exchequer of cash amounting to €9,300 pursuant to Section 39, Criminal Justice Act 1994, as amended by Section 21, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005, on the grounds that it was proven on the balance of probabilities to represent the proceeds of crime, or was intended for use in criminal conduct. On 28 June 2011 Revenue Enforcement Officers at Dublin Airport seized and detained the cash from Hector Crespo Blanco, as he was about to board a flight to Bilbao, Spain.

When questioned, Mr. Crespo Blanco stated that some of the cash belonged to a friend of his who was also travelling on the same flight. Mr. Crespo Blanco also claimed that the cash was sourced as a result of his involvement as a part owner of a number of clothing companies. However, when requested to provide documentation to support these claims, Mr. Crespo Blanco was not able to do so. The amount originally seized was €9,500, however when this money was lodged to account, it was discovered that four of the €50 notes were counterfeit.

Following an investigation by Revenue’s Investigations and Prosecutions Division, a file on the matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions who ordered the forfeiture proceedings.