Pair granted 6 weeks in bid for Cab-row mansion
Judge allows couple extra time to get documents from Moldova
A COUPLE fighting to stop the Criminal Assets Bureau seizing their mansion have six weeks “to sort yourselves out”, a judge ruled yesterday.
Eduard Chiper, 48, and his 41-yearold wife Natalia are trying to “obtain documents from Moldova”, the High Court in Dublin heard.
The couple – who had €1million drugs charges against them dropped – live at the White House, Tullyard, in Ballymakenny, Co Louth.
But CAB want to take the two-storey luxury home off them under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The court heard the Chipers’ solicitor has filed affidavits explaining the efforts they have made for their defence.
Their counsel asked Mr Justice Alexander Owens to fix a hearing date of the case but to allow six weeks for the respondents to file further affidavits.
Counsel added: “Controversy arises over the quantity surveyor’s report for the CAB and the couple’s quantity surveyor.
“Efforts are ongoing to obtain documents from Moldova. High level instructions have been taken.”
Last November, at the High Court, Mr Justice Alexander Owens was told by the Chipers’ defence lawyer an application was being made “for more time to file defence affidavits”.
Yesterday, the judge gave the couple a further six weeks “to sort yourselves out,” and to file outstanding affidavits, a quantity surveyor affidavit and a forensic accountant’s affidavit.
He added “this is going on five months now,” before adjourning the case to be listed on April 17. In 2019, the glamorous couple, originally from Moldova, were charged with possession of cannabis herb worth €940,000 with intent to sell or supply.
They were both also charged with simple possession of the drug.
They had appeared before Drogheda District Court were remanded in custody before bail applications were successfully granted after two “family friends” each lodged €15,000 cash bail.
It was alleged the cannabis was found after a planned search of their premises in Ballymakenny.
However, in September that year, Drogheda District Court was informed by the court presenter that the Director of Public Prosecutions had withdrawn the charges before Judge Eireann Mckiernan struck out the charge.
6 wks to sort yourselves out... this has been going on for five months JUSTICE OWENS YESTERDAY