A ZIMBABWEAN woman based in Ireland told her Syrian colleague that she had a powerful dosage of juju which would protect the duo from being arrested and prosecuted as they committed a crime spree in which they robbed six vulnerable pensioners of about US$36 000.
Precious Moyo, 38, a care worker, had nursed all the six victims.
One of the victims passed away three months after
s which represented a fundamental breakdown of trust and she had abused her position in a most appalling way.
The crimes happened after Moyo was let go from an agency following complaints made against her.
Judge Johnson said the court had to send out a message and it was clear victims were traumatised and their “crime spree” resulted in permanent life changes with some no longer living independently while others were in “constant fear”.
Their crimes damaged the reputation of genuine immigrants the vast majority of whom, the judge stressed, were law abiding and contributed to Irish society.
Judge Johnson said he did not want people to highlight this case as being indicative of immigrants.
The defence pleaded with Judge Johnson to note the early guilty pleas avoided a substantial trial with around 100 witnesses and further traumatisation of the elderly victims.
Counsel submitted the court could give a 30 percent reduced sentence because they had expressed remorse for assaulting and “terrorising” the victims and had the prospect of rehabilitation.
Moyo moved to Ireland five years ago.
She claimed that her father’s death, when she was 13, impacted her and there were also claims she suffered abuse from older men in her community.
Alhamada “spiralled out of control” from cannabis and alcohol abuse that led to a €12,000 drug debt with pressure to pay, and he “never thought of the victims of these offences when he was committing them”.
Neither defendant addressed the court or showed any emotion.
Four incidents occurred in
