An architect designed two extensions costing a total of more than £120,000 for the Co Cork home of the Swiss woman at the centre of the money-laundering trial, Cork Criminal Circuit Court was told yesterday.
Mr Tom Cahill said he was introduced to Ms Maria Bernadetta Jehle (47), of the Priory, Cobh, by a builder in February 1997. He drew up plans for two extensions, one comprising two self-contained apartments, the other a bigger, two-bedroom , two-bathroom apartment.
In March 1997, Ms Jehle introduced him to Mr Swen Uwe Palisch. "He gave me brochures of houses and I did drawings of a house he was to build on land at the Priory," said Mr Cahill. "I think Ms Jehle said he was a relation.
"I gave the drawings and the bill to Ms Jehle and she told me the bill would be paid after a certain amount of time, but I heard no more about it since then."
Ms Jehle denies two charges of handling money knowing it was the proceeds of other people's criminal activity.
Mr Fergus Appleby, solicitor, of Bandon, said he acted for Ms Jehle when she bought the Priory. She told him she wanted an Isle of Man company set up.
"She told me about the Isle of Man's Freeport and I wrote to Freeport in October 1990," said Mr Appleby. "The company, Gidlow Ltd, was in existence by February 1991 when funds for the purchase of the Priory were paid over to the sellers."
Questioned by Mr Don McCarthy BL for the State, Mr Appleby said he communicated with Ms Jehle in English and felt that "with careful explanation" she understood everything relating to her business.
The trial, now in its ninth week, continues before Judge Patrick Moran and a jury today.