Two men who were found guilty of threatening to kill and extort money from a Monaghan-based fitter have each been sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended.
Deividas Sutkevicius (29) of Fox Lodge, Ratoath, Co Meath and Arturas Jankus (52) of Cortolvin View, Monaghan have also been ordered to stay away from the injured party, Marius Zukauskis and his family for 20 years.
The men had pleaded not (NOT) guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to demanding €3,500 with menaces and €2,500 with menaces in Monaghan on March 4 and April 4, 2011.
The men, who are from Lithuania, had also pleaded not guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Marius Zukauskis in Monaghan on the same dates.
Detective Garda Sergeant Michael O’Donoghue told Donal Keane BL, prosecuting, that Mr Zukauskis, who worked as a fitter but sprayed cars in the evening at a garage between Carrickmacross and Ardee, had called gardaí when he received the demands and threats from the men.
Det Gda O’Donoghue said Sutkevicius called to Mr Zukauskis to have an Audi A6 sprayed for an agreed price in 2011.
He said when Sutkevicius came to collect the vehicle he refused to pay because the job was “not good” and he handed Mr Zukauskis a bill to have the car re-sprayed. “Mr Zukauskis was told if he didn’t pay the money the cars at his garage would be burnt out,” said the detective.
Det Gda O’Donoghue said four men, including the two defendants, called to the garage and made demands for money from Mr Zukauskis and made him sign paper saying he owed them money. Mr Zukauskis handed the men €3,500.
They told Mr Zukauskis they would return in a month for more money. Gardaí set up a ‘sting operation’ on April 4, 2011 with surveillance and video equipment and negotiators to advise the injured party.
“Mr Zukauskis then received phone calls threatening him and told him to be ready at 5pm for the two men to come and collect the money. The phone calls were recorded and both men were arrested when they arrived at the garage,’ said Det Gda O’Donoghue.
He said both Jankus and Sutkevicius have no previous convictions.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Zukauskis said he and his family have had to move away from the area because of the threats made to him. “They said they knew where my family lived and I became very nervous. They threatened to burn out my garage.”
Det Gda O’Donoghue agreed with defence counsel for Jankus, Gerry O’Brien SC, that there was no evidence that Jankus had made any threatening phone calls and accepted that Jankus played a lesser role in the operation.
Det Gda O’Donoghue said it appeared that Sutkevicius was the leader. Defence counsel for Sutkevicius Patrick McGrath SC, said the defendant had been actively involved in work as a security man and that he maintains that he is not guilty of the offences.
Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced both men to four years in prison with the final two years suspended for three years on each count.
