Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for man caught minding drugs and cash 'warehouse'
Summary
Chun Cheng, a 36‑year‑old Chinese national living in Rutland Place, Dublin 1, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine worth €79,000, cannabis worth €22,000, €176,015 in proceeds of criminal conduct, and seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, all found at his apartment on 6 October 2019. He had no prior convictions and had cooperated with Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan noted Cheng's deepening involvement in the drug operation, his receipt of rent for the apartment and a bank balance of just over €19,000, and described him as an intelligent man likely to reform. The judge suspended the final four years of a nine‑year sentence, ordered forfeiture of the cash and bank balance to the State, and highlighted Cheng's remorse and desire to help others with addiction.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man caught minding drugs and cash 'warehouse'. Charges or matters: having cocaine worth an estimated €79,000 and cannabis worth an estimated €22,000 for sale or supply at his then home on October 6, 2019; having €176,015 being the proceeds of criminal conduct and seven rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition on the same date at his home. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 6, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-07-08 Publication
Why: Cheng told the court that he came to Ireland in 2011 because "genuinely I really love this country". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: having cocaine worth an estimated €79,000 and cannabis worth an estimated €22,000 for sale or supply at his then home on October 6, 2019; having €176,015 being the proceeds of criminal conduct and seven rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition on the same date at his home (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He accepted that Cheng had no previous convictions, co-operated with the garda investigation and was "unlikely to re-offend in the future". "He is an intelligent man who can reform, rehabilitate and make a go of his life," Judge Nolan said before he suspended the final four years of a nine-year sentence.
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