A MAN WHO gardaí suspect was on the move with thousands of euro in cash just two days after €164,000 worth of cannabis plants was found at a growhouse in county Kildare has been refused the return of monies seized from him by a detective.
Gregor Fronc, with an address at 93 Roseberry Hill, Newbridge, had €8,000 and an iPhone 5 seized by Detective Inspector Séamus Doyle on 22 February 2014 at Rosconnell, Newbridge.
The iPhone 5 was returned shortly afterwards but the money was kept under the Irish Police Property Act, 1997.
Detective Doyle said that he stopped the car because the girlfriend of a man leasing the house where the growhouse was located was in the car along with her brother Gregor Fronc. He is understood to be an associate of this man.
In May of this year, Fronc’s mother appeared at Naas District Court with a document showing the withdrawal of money from a Polish bank account, which she claimed was a joint one between herself and her daughter.
She told the court that the money was given to her son, Fronc, so that he could set up a shop selling ladies fashion in Newbridge.
The case was adjourned at the time due to queries Judge Desmond Zaidan had as to the veracity of the bank document produced in court.
On Thursday, Fronc appeared at Naas District Court, claiming that the money found under the seat of the car in a ‘little box’, was going to be used to set up a ladies clothes shop in Newbridge.
Prosecuting Inspector Mel Smyth outlined how Fronc ‘changed his version’ and that on the day, he had originally told Detective Doyle that he was using the money to purchase a car for his girlfriend. He then said that his mother gave the money to him to buy goods for his shop in Newbridge.
Inspector Smyth said: “I would put it to you that there was never a shop.”
When Fronc was asked by Judge Zaidan to produce a lease agreement for the shop, he said, “I don’t have the lease agreement with me, no-one asked me for it.”
Inspector Smyth probed Fronc on his relationship with the man who was renting the property where the growhouse at School Lane, Suncroft, Newbridge was uncovered on 20 February 2014.
Fronc said: “I seldom see him, I don’t speak to him.”
Inspector Smyth outlined to the court how Fronc’s sister is in a relationship with the man who was renting the property where the growhouse was found and had been at the time the money was seized.
Fronc said: “My sister says they are friends. He stays at the house sometimes.”
The inspector queried Fronc on his close association with the two men, who were found to be operating the growhouse, and told the court that there were photos of him with these men when the iPhone was seized.
Detective Séamus Doyle also added that there were photos of Fronc with these two men at a “social gathering”.
Defence Solicitor Tim Kennelly asked Detective Doyle if he had the photos to which he responded, ‘No’.
Kennelly said:
You have to have the phone in court. This is about being called guilty by association. Poor a and b being tarnished with the same brush as c.
Defence also added that the man who was renting the property where the growhouse was found has not been convicted of any crime.
Detective Doyle said: “He was living with the person renting the property with the growhouse. He was not truthful and he was found with all this money and on social welfare. I was suspicious.”
The detective added that he did not believe Fronc was the owner of the money but that it was the proceeds of crime, generated from the grow-house uncovered two days previously.
Judge Zaidan said:”The evidence given by Fronc was contradicted by gardaí.”
The return of the €8,000 seized to Fronc was refused by Judge Zaidan.
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