Gardai bust €250k cannabis growhouse
THREE men are due back in court in Fermoy this Friday after they were charged at the weekend with drug offences following the discovery by gardai of a cannabis growhouse in the town with plants with a potential street value of €250,000.
The three foreign nationals were brought before a special sitting of Mallow District Court on Easter Monday following an operation by Gardaí in Fermoy and Portlaoise which led to the discovery of a growhouse with 320 plants in Fermoy on Saturday evening.
A 56 year old Serbian travelling on a New Zealand passport, a Hong Kong-born British citizen (51) and a 38 year old Malaysian man were all charged with a single drugs offence in relation to the discovery of the growhouse in Fermoy.
All three men, whose addresses were given as No Fixed Abode, were charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply. One of the men was also charged with a second offence of failing to produce a valid passport or equivalent document to establish his identity.
None of the men sought bail.
THREE men are due back in court in Fermoy this Friday after they were charged at the weekend with drug offences following the discovery by gardai of a cannabis growhouse in the town with plants with a potential street value of €250,000.
The three foreign nationals were brought before a special sitting of Mallow District Court on Easter Monday following a garda operation by officers in Fermoy and Portlaoise which led to the discovery of a growhouse with 320 plants in Fermoy on Saturday evening.
Zoran Spasich (56) a Serbian travelling on a New Zealand passport, Hong Kong-born British citizen Kim Cheung Johnson Liao (51) and Malaysian Kim Wong (38) were all charged with a single drugs offence in relation to the discovery of the growhouse in Fermoy.
All three men, whose addresses were given as No Fixed Abode, were charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Weston, Rathealy Road, Fermoy on April 15th contrary to Section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Mr Wong was also charged with a second offence of failing to produce a valid passport or equivalent document to establish his identity when requested to do so by Det Garda David Moynihan at Weston, Rathealy Road, Fermoy on April 15th, contrary to Section 12 of the Immigration Act.
Det Garda Moynihan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr Wong and told the court that the accused made no reply to either of the two charges when they were put to him after caution.
Det Garda Tom Ryan gave evidence of arrest charge and caution in relation to Mr Spasich and told the court that he made no reply to the single charge against him while the court heard similar evidence that Mr Laoi made no reply when the single charge against him was put to him.
Insp Mick Corbett said that gardai were objecting to bail and seeking a remand in custody for all three men but solicitors for the three, John Hussey, Cathal Lombard and Eddie Burke said each of their clients were not seeking bail at this point.
Insp Corbett said that gardai were seeking a remand in custody for all three to appear at Fermoy District Court on Friday, April 21 and Judge David Waters remanded all three in custody to appear again on that date.
Judge Waters also asked Insp Corbett to set out in writing garda objections to bail for the three men in advance of the hearing in Fermoy on Friday and Insp Corbett confirmed that he would do that, and supply the objections to the three defendants’ solicitors.
Solicitors for the three men also applied for free legal aid for their clients and Insp Corbett indicated that gardai had no objection to free legal aid as gardai were satisfied that they did not have the means to pay for legal advice and Judge Waters granted free legal aid to all three accused.
Mr Burke also asked that his client, Mr Wong, would be examined by a doctor at Cork Prison as he was on a number of prescription medicines and Judge Waters directed that Mr Wong be so examined by medical staff at the jail.
Mr Wong was assisted during the 15 minute hearing by an interpreter fluent in Cantonese Chinese and Judge Waters also agreed to a defence application that an interpreter being present in Fermoy on April 21 to assist both Mr Wong and Mr Laoi whose first language is Mandarin Chinese.
Det Garda Ryan told the court that Mr Spasich had no need of an interpreter as his English was good, having lived in New Zealand for some 18 years prior to his arrival in Ireland. Mr Spasich confirmed that he understood the proceedings during the court hearing.