Courts / Dublin / Report

Mother and daughter caught with €1.3m in gold bullion and hundreds of thousands in crime cash

Date
2025-12-17
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Lucan
County
Dublin

Summary

A mother and daughter were found in possession of €1.3 million in gold bullion and hundreds of thousands in cash during garda raids, leading to their convictions for the possession of proceeds of crime. Svethana Bahtijeva (39) and her mother Jelene Idele (59) pleaded guilty to multiple charges, with Bahtijeva receiving a five-year prison sentence and Idele receiving a four-year suspended sentence. During the raids, 18kg of gold bullion, €399,000 in cash, and drugs were discovered in their homes. Bahtijeva's husband, who is believed to have fled the country, was identified as the main figure in the criminal activities. The court heard that Bahtijeva was under her husband's control and facilitated his criminal activities, while Idele was unaware of the drugs in her home. The judge noted that the main culprit was not present in court and that Bahtijeva's actions were influenced by her husband's criminal behavior.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mother and daughter caught with €1.3m in gold bullion and hundreds of thousands in crime cash. Charges or matters: four counts of the possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct last September; three counts of the possession of the proceeds of crime. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Jelene Idele

Convicted Person

Charges: three counts of the possession of the proceeds of crime (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Bahtijeva, who has been in custody since her arrest in September 2024, was today sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to five years' imprisonment, while her mother Idele was given a four-year suspended sentence.

Svethana Bahtijeva

Defendant

Charges: four counts of the possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct last September; three counts of the possession of the proceeds of crime (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Bahtijeva, who has been in custody since her arrest in September 2024, was today sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to five years' imprisonment, while her mother Idele was given a four-year suspended sentence.

Places mentioned

Residence
Facility
  • Idele's house

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence

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