The amount of resources and time the CAB (Criminal Assets Bureau) expends in prosecuting criminals is vast. Many cases span years before successful prosecutions ensue. Lie detector test services play a significant role in a variety of investigations. A Limerick polygraph test administered to a brothel keeper would have achieved a much more expedient end to the following case.
CAB v Aulicete Walsh and Maicon Morelli
In the High Court today the CAB successfully prosecuted Aulicete Walsh, a Brazilian and her son Maicon Morelli, the registered owner of a Limerick flat. The CAB was granted orders under Section 3 of the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act.
Justice Carmel Stewart didn’t hesitate in pronouncing that the property had been obtained using the proceeds of crime.
The judge stated that Walsh had constantly flouted the law as a brothel keeper.
Walsh had previously spent 8 months in prison having kept brothels in more than one location including Limerick. These offences occurred in 2015 but she was not convicted until 2017. Prior to this in 2012 she had been fined for brothel keeping at Newcastle West District Court, in the sum of 750 euros.
The property that formed the basis of the CAB case was acquired in 2014 and purchased for around £34,000. The CAB became involved as a result of the Gardai investigating Walsh’s brothel keeping activities.
Legitimate and illegitimate earnings
Walsh and Morelli disputed the application made by the CAB whilst appearing to assert that some 20,000 euros paid toward the cost of the flat had been earned legitimately. One wonders where the remainder came from!
According to Walsh she had paid 10,000 euros toward the purchase price via earnings from a variety of jobs. These included cleaning, childminding, working in restaurants and elsewhere.
However, her lifestyle belied this considering the holidays she took and cars she bought among other things. A Limerick polygraph test would rapidly have determined the truth of her statements.
Her son, into whose name the property had been transferred, said that his contribution to the purchase price came partly from an inheritance. Currently living in Brazil, Morelli said that he had travelled to Ireland with this money and his savings. Whilst in Ireland he stated he had worked in diverse jobs the earning from which also contributed to the purchase. In the same way a Limerick polygraph test would have quickly established the truth.
The High Court determined otherwise and considered that the property had been acquired through illicit earnings from the exploitation of young women. Morelli denied all knowledge of brothel related activities.
The full story on this case can be read in the Irish Examiner.
Limerick polygraph test service
As a nationwide Lie detector test service providers we invite the Criminal Assets Bureau to discuss how polygraph tests can help with their investigations.