Courts / Dublin / Report

Married couple ran brothel empire with 25 escorts

Date
2021-12-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Hani Ali Showky and Nicolina Velic, a married couple from Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to running brothels, organising prostitution, money laundering, and using false instruments in Co Dublin. The court heard the pair operated nine properties with 25 escorts, generating an estimated €5,000 weekly profit. Showky admitted to renting properties using fake bank statements and subletting them to escorts, while also establishing a company to facilitate a money laundering scheme. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Showky to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. She noted his 31 previous convictions but considered his early guilty plea and personal circumstances. Velic, who had no prior convictions, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the sentence suspended in its entirety on strict conditions. The judge acknowledged Velic was less actively involved and under Showky's influence, citing her role as a sole carer for a young child. Both defendants admitted the charges, and the court noted that the escorts were not coerced or trafficked, nor were they illegal immigrants. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Married couple ran brothel empire with 25 escorts. Charges or matters: the running of brothels and organisation of prostitution at various locations in Co Dublin; money laundering and the use of false instruments such as bank statements, references, payslips from a fake company, a UK driving licence, an amended Revenue tax certificate and a UK passport. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 2016 Other
December 2019 Other
2021-12-20 Publication

Case subjects

Hani Ali Showky

Defendant

Charges: the running of brothels and organisation of prostitution at various locations in Co Dublin; money laundering and the use of false instruments such as bank statements, references, payslips from a fake company, a UK driving licence, an amended Revenue tax certificate and a UK passport (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Codd sentenced Showky to five years imprisonment but suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions.

Nicolina Velic

Accused

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Codd sentenced Velic to four years imprisonment but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions.