Courts / Dublin / Report
Drug service 'keeps the kingpins from justice'
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Elmer Habibovic, 31, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, following a guilty plea for possession of cocaine for sale or supply. Gardaí seized €25,500 worth of cocaine and €6,000 cash from his home on 19 April 2018. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that Habibovic had sufficient savings to repay a €15,000 gambling debt and that the drug trade was for financial gain. He had eleven prior convictions for public order and road traffic offences, all dealt with in the District Court, and had not offended since July 2009. The judge described the offence as falling in the upper end of the lower range for such cases, citing the amount of drugs and the service provided as keeping "kingpins from justice." The sentence was suspended on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions for 18 months post‑release.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Drug service 'keeps the kingpins from justice'. Charges or matters: possession of cocaine for sale or supply at his home. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 19, 2018 Incident
- July 2009 Incident
- 2021-01-13 Publication
Why: By Sonya McLean & Brion Hoban A personal trainer who said he was holding cocaine in order to pay off a €15,000 gambling debt has been jailed for 18 months. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of cocaine for sale or supply at his home (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Elma Sheahan noted that Habibovic was also found in possession of €6,000 cash in the house and said that the court has difficulty accepting the explanation that he held the drugs in order to pay a gambling debt due. She sentenced Habibovic to three years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions including that he follow all directions of the Probation Service for 18 months post release.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Public Order Road Traffic Stage Sentence
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