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Suspended sentence for Polish woman over her part in attempt to sell "cloned" BMW to undercover gardai

Summary

In November 2015, Mariola Machura, a 42‑year‑old Polish woman from Sosnowiec, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a stolen BMW X5 that had been "cloned" with false registration plates. The vehicle was seized by undercover Gardaí at Airside Business Park, Swords, after they responded to a suspicious online advert. The car had been stolen three months earlier and had been fitted with the plates and electronic control unit of a scrapped BMW five‑seater. Machura was described by the judge as a follower rather than a leader in the scheme and was given an 18‑month sentence, which was suspended in full. She had no prior convictions. Her estranged husband, who had been arrested earlier, received a two‑year sentence for attempted theft. The case was prosecuted by James Dwyer BL, with Garda David Magee noting that Machura had acted under her husband's direction and was not a ring leader.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for Polish woman over her part in attempt to sell "cloned" BMW to undercover gardai. Charges or matters: possession of a stolen BMW X5 car fitted with false registration plates at Airside Business Park, Swords, on October 17, 2011. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 17, 2011 Incident
• 2015-11-06 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report