https://www.westernpeople.ie/nail-bar-worker-charged-with-money-laundering-after-80k-seizure_arid-68834.html

A Vietnamese man arrested over a seizure of almost €80,000 and more than £10,000 in suspected crime proceeds at his Dublin home has claimed he had the cash to open a new nail bar.

Quang Nguyen, 28, of Applewood Lawns, Swords, Dublin, was charged with money laundering following a search of his home on Saturday.

The nail bar worker appeared before Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court on Monday when his bail was set at €21,000.

The father of one is accused of possessing €78,500 and £10,800 in crime proceeds contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.

A bail hearing was told that the man informed gardaí the Euros had been given to him by friends to help him open a nail bar in Drogheda, but he did not reveal who had given him the British money.

Following questioning by defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght, it was established that gardaí had yet to speak with the people identified by the accused as having given him the money.

Mr Lysaght said his client had a partner and a child here.

The court heard he had been legally residing in the State, having arrived here a decade ago.

The judge was told that he had been “trafficked” through Russia, Germany and Austria in containers before he reached Ireland.

Judge Cronin noted the Garda evidence but stressed he had the presumption of innocence and had given an explanation in relation to the money while Garda enquiries were ongoing. She held bail with conditions that could be imposed on his bond of €1,000 along with a €21,000 independent surety.

He will appear again next week. A decision on his eligibility for legal aid has been deferred pending a statement of his means.