The Director of Public Prosecutions v Virginijus Jokubaitis

Amount Forfeited

€19,300

Court Date

14 February 2013

Venue

Dublin Circuit Court

Judge

Mary Ellen Ring

Summary:

On 14 February 2013 Dublin Circuit Court ordered the forfeiture to the Exchequer of cash amounting to €19,300 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 27 February 2011 Revenue Enforcement Officers at Dublin Airport seized and detained the cash from Virginijus Jokubaitis, as he was about to board a flight to Belgium.

When questioned, Mr. Jokubaitis stated he was carrying approximately €12,000, however in the course of a subsequent search cash totalling €19,300 was found in his wallet, in the pockets of his camera case, in his toiletry bag, and in a sock in the lining of his suitcase.

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.

It had been claimed by Virginijus Jokubaitis that he was travelling to Brussels, Belgium, that the money was his, that he had been in Ireland for about a month, and that he intended to look for a premises to open a beauty salon in Dublin. He further claimed to be a car dealer in Belgium and that he was also in Ireland to look at cars. Mr Jokubaitis did not provide any evidence to support these claims.

Virginijus Jokubaitis was not represented nor did he contest the application for forfeiture.