Cork court: Man faces sentencing for cyber crimes in case investigated by gardaí and FBI

Cyber crimes investigated in Ireland by An Garda Síochána and also by the FBI in America resulted in a man with an address in Douglas facing sentencing for having €80,000 in cryptocurrencies as a result of online criminality.

Suleman Mazhar, aged 43, who was previously of Moneygourney, Douglas, Cork, had the case against him listed for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, where Detective Sergeant Wes Kenny outlined what had happened during July 2021.

The accused man was identified and €80,000 in cryptocurrencies was seized. Mazhar was questioned by gardaí and replied: “No comment,” to all questions at interview. The case was listed for trial, but in advance of trial the accused entered a guilty plea in respect of a charge arising out of the investigation.

There was an application for forfeiture of the bitcoin to the State. While the value was put at €80,000 at the time of the offences, Det Sgt Kenny testified that it is now worth €200,000.

The State did not object to the return of the defendant’s car and his computer, provided that he consented to it being wiped clear.

Jane Hyland, senior counsel, submitted that the plea of guilty entered by Mazhar in this case was of significant assistance, as it would have been a complex trial by judge and jury.

The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges — money laundering and using a computer to commit theft. The money laundering referred to a period between June 2020 and July 2021, both within the State, knowing or believing cryptocurrency held in a Coinbase account in his name, was the proceeds of crime.

The second count referred to September 2020 to March 2022 where he did dishonestly operate a computer with the intention of making a gain for himself or another, or of causing loss to another by obtaining payments made in respect of goods and services offered for sale on a website bearing the address “cashoutempire.com”.

Sentencing will take place on May 9.