Businessman connected to international 9.7m ‘zombi’ Apple phones operation, court hears [Video]

LAST UPDATE | 9 hrs ago

A BUSINESSMAN BASED in Dublin has been accused of money laundering connected to an international €9.7m “zombie” iPhone fraud.

Chengwen Guo, 41, of Ivy Exchange, Parnell Street, D1, was arrested at his home on Wednesday following a three-year investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation into an illegal counterfeit Apple phone trade.

He was taken to Kevin Street Garda station in the city centre and charged with three offences under section seven of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 for possessing crime proceeds totalling €170,460, following searches at three locations in Dublin in January 2022. The offence carries a maximum 14-year sentence.

The father of four, who was believed to be running a chain of phone shops since moving to Ireland in 2012, allegedly had €143,245 at his home, €20,700 at Murray Mobile, 15 Main Street, Dundrum, D14, and €6,515 in a 2019-reg Audi …