A rural Vietnamese farmer has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for acting as a gardener in a cannabis grow house in Dublin. Dien Bui (65) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivation of cannabis at Collins Avenue, Killester, on March 28th, 2012. He has been in custody since his arrest.
Judge Martin Nolan noted that the potential value of the plants if they had been ready for harvesting was €80,000. He imposed a two-year sentence backdated to Bui's arrest.
Garda Nicola Connolly told Tony McGillicuddy, prosecuting, that Bui was the only person present when gardaí searched the house and found two rooms upstairs containing a total of 190 cannabis plants at various growth stages and 10 seedlings.
Bui outlined to gardaí that his role was to act as a gardener for which he was to be paid a small amount of money. He told gardaí he was not the organiser.
Seán Gillane SC, defending, said Bui had come here in 2009 and overextended his stay, then become involved in this operation and is now here illegally. Mr Gillane added Bui is married with two young children and has little English.Briefs