Cybercriminal in Cork who was investigated by FBI faces sentencing

Suleman Mazhar will be sentenced on May 9. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cybercrimes investigated in Ireland by An Garda Síochána and also by the FBI resulted in a man with an address in Cork facing sentence for having €80,000 in cryptocurrencies as a result of online criminality.

Suleman Mazhar, aged 43, who was previously of Moneygourney, Douglas, Cork, had the case against him listed for sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where Detective Sergeant Wes Kenny outlined what happened back in July 2021.

The accused man was identified and €80,000 in cryptocurrencies was seized. Mazhar was questioned by gardaí and replied, ‘No comment’, to all questions at interview. The case was listed for trial but in advance of trial the accused entered a guilty plea in respect of a charge arising out of the investigation.

There was an application for forfeiture of the bitcoin to the State. While the value was put at €80,000 at the time of the offences, Det Sgt Kenny testified that it is now worth €200,000.

The State did not object to the return of the defendant’s car and his computer, provided that he consented to it being wiped clear. There was no State application for forfeiture of €9,000 in an account held by the defendant in Germany, which was not deemed to be connected to the case.

Jane Hyland senior counsel submitted that the plea of guilty entered by Mazhar in this case was of significant assistance as it would have been a complex trial by judge and jury which would have taken several weeks.

Ms Hyland said the accused had an interest in putting computer science to legitimate use but that he had fallen into this criminal behaviour for which he was very remorseful.

The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges — money-laundering and using a computer to commit theft.

The money-laundering referred to a period between the June 2020 and July 2021, both within the State, knowing or believing cryptocurrency held in the Coinbase account in his name was the proceeds of crime.

The second count referred to September 2020 to March 2022, you did dishonestly operate a computer with the intention of making a gain for yourself or another, or of causing loss to another, by obtaining payments made in respect of goods and services offered for sale on a website

Sentencing was adjourned until May 9.