Seven years for South African caught in Garda drug sting

A FORTY-YEAR-OLD South African man who was yesterday given a seven-year jail sentence for having more than €134,000 worth of cannabis for sale or supply, still protested his innocence, the Circuit Criminal Court was told in Tralee, Co Kerry.

Premier Mthethwa of 35 Cnoc Gorm, Knocknacuig, Tralee, had been convicted by a jury earlier this week of having the drugs in Tralee on October 5, 2006.

He had pleaded not guilty to three charges which arose from an elaborate garda sting operation.

Father-of-four Mthethwa first arrived here as an asylum seeker in 1999 and has been a permanent resident since 2001, employed as a kitchen maintenance worker in a Killarney hotel.

The eight-day trial heard how a Customs officer at Dublin Airport had intercepted the package, which was on its way to Tralee via Heathrow Airport from Pretoria, South Africa.

A sting was set up in Tralee and Sergeant Ray Monahan, dressed as a DHL courier van driver, delivered the package which been addressed to a Roland Franz, with an address at 35 Cnoc Gorm, Tralee. However, the sergeant testified that Mthethwa said he was Franz, accepted the package and signed for its delivery.

Gardaí also gave evidence of searching his house under warrant and of observing three cars in the driveway, as well as a 42-inch television and state-of-the-art stereo systems, televisions and computers in each bedroom.

Mthethwa denied taking possession of the package, or signing any document accepting it. Under examination by prosecuting counsel Tom Rice he claimed the gardaí had “planted” it on him.

Senior defence counsel Dermot McKeown said the accused, who still protested his innocence, was an orphan brought up in a shack in a township in Pretoria. He had no education but had attended private classes and had worked as a taxi driver.

As a result of violence, he left the country and came to Ireland in 1999, seeking asylum. His client had no previous convictions and a conviction would be very difficult for his wife and family of four children, aged from four to 18.

On Thursday morning, a Tralee Town Council representative had visited the home of the accused and told his wife the family were being evicted because of drug dealing, Mr McKeown said.

Sentencing yesterday, Judge Ray Fullham acknowledged: “His young family will also be in straitened financial circumstances.”

The judge refused leave to appeal.