Behind bars...of gold

Daughter jailed for 5 years for possessing crime proceeds | Mum gets 4-year suspended sentence | Drugs were discovered too

- BY EIMEAR DODD

A MOTHER and daughter have been sentenced for possession of the proceeds of crime including hundreds of thousands in cash and 18 kilos of gold bullion worth more than €1.3million.

Svethana Bahtijeva (39) admitted four counts of possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct last September.

Her mother Jelene Idele (59) of Glenbourne Walk, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of the proceeds of crime.

She further pleaded to one count of being the occupier of a property in Hillview Grove, Dundrum and knowingly permitting the possession of cocaine and MDMA on September 28 last.

The women have no previous convictions. Bahtijeva has been in custody since her arrest in September 2024.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Bahtjeva to five years' imprisonment while her mother Idele was given a fouryear suspended term.

Det Garda Sean McEnroe told prosecutor David Staunton a warrant has been issued for Bahtijeva's husband, who is back in his native Kazakhstan.

Their home in Earlsfort Court, Lucan, West Dublin, was searched on September last year and five keys were located. Three were for safety deposit boxes while the others were for safes, later found in Idele's home.