Gilligan accuses CAB of money laundering

DRUG dealer John Gilligan claimed yesterday that had he paid a €2.5 million tax bill, the Criminal Assets Bureau would not be seeking to take over properties belonging to him and his family.

In his cross-examination of CAB’s legal officer Frank Cassidy, Gilligan claimed the practice of taking tax that is theproceeds of crime was, in effect, money laundering by CAB. But Mr Cassidy replied that money laundering was about hiding, converting and disguising it from legitimate authorities.

“Taking it and giving it to the Minister for Finance is not in any way disguising it, it is acknowledging it is the proceeds of crime,” said Mr Cassidy.