Danish businessman transferred €1.6m into account, trial hears

Simon Gold, aged 54, with an address in Aughavas, County Leitrim, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments, relating to events between January 2010 and October 2012. He has pleaded not guilty. During the seventh day of evidence, the court heard that a Danish businessman transferred €1.6 million in two tranches to what he believed was a custodial bank account with Ulster Bank in Dublin in October 2012. The account was subsequently frozen by gardaí. The businessman told the court he understood the funds were for a green energy investment opportunity and that he never authorised any withdrawals. A sum of €335,000 was transferred from the account to a third party without his instruction. Earlier testimony established that the accused used multiple aliases, including Simon Gould, Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. The trial continues before Judge Nolan and a jury.