Man found not guilty of laundering money stolen from Korean priest

A Drogheda resident has been found not guilty of laundering money stolen from a Korean priest two years ago.

The jury took under three hours to acquit Estonian national Olari Ott (aged 29) with an address at Togher Cross, Togher, of laundering €7,100 stolen from Father Man Sam Ham between August 23 and 25, 2006.

Judge Patrick McCarten directed the jury of seven men and five women to return a "not guilty" verdict on a second charge of theft on day one of the trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Garda Paul Kelly said in evidence that Mr Ott told gardaí he gave a fellow national’s bank details to a former housemate and work colleague when he was asked for the use of a bank account to deposit "work money".

The garda told prosecution counsel, Mr Garnet Orange BL, that Mr Ott handed €5,400 cash to his ex-housemate’s associate at The Square, Tallaght after he withdrew the €7,100 from Ranelagh Bank of Ireland branch with fellow national, Mr Toomas Perj.

Garda Kelly said Mr Ott claimed his former work colleague "Derma" indicated the €7,100 was earnings from his construction job in Athlone.

Judge Patrick McCarten thanked the jury members for completing their civic duty.