Deportee left sports car and £40,000, court told

An assistant chef in a Chinese restaurant who was deported from Ireland last week left behind a 1997 Mercedes-Benz sports car and more than £40,000 in bank accounts although he was earning less than £8,000 a year, the High Court heard yesterday.

Mr Justice O'Donovan granted an interim injunction restraining Mr Jeffrey Lam Weng Thye, or his agents, from disposing of the car, registration number 97 D 54589, or from dealing with or reducing monies held in accounts.

The order, returnable to Monday, was sought by Mr Patrick O'Connell, counsel for Man Brothers Trading Company Ltd, which runs Chinese restaurants in Leixlip, Co Kildare and Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Mr O'Connell said it appeared Mr Lam Weng Thye was "very busy" while working for Mr Man and had amassed "a small fortune" while earning less than £8,000 a year. The defendant had been deported last week and inquiries were being made to establish his whereabouts in Malaysia.

In an affidavit, Mr Paul Man, of Brooklawn, Finnstown Abbey, Lucan, Co Dublin, managing director of Man Brothers, said he believed the property and monies accumulated by the defendant were the proceeds of the sale of goods stolen from him by the defendant.

He was advised by his accountant that despite the level of business and turnover at his restaurants, there was a shortfall. Mr Man believed this was likely to have been as a result of the defendant stealing his property and selling it.

Mr Man said he had employed the defendant as an assistant chef at his restaurant at St Mary's Buildings, Main Street, Leixlip, from June 1996. He had paid his wage and provided him with accommodation in Leixlip.

Mr Man said he made unsuccessful efforts to get a work permit for the defendant. Mr Thye was arrested last November and deported on November 24th.

On November 22nd, Mr Man said he was contacted by another man who said he had been asked by the defendant to collect property and belongings from the defendant's room in Leixlip.

Mr Man said he went with that man to the house and in the defendant's room he discovered spirits, all of which were stocked at his restaurant. On November 23rd, Mr Man said he was asked by a woman to accompany her to the defendant's room. The woman told him the defendant had asked her to collect documents there. Under a mattress he found a vehicle registration certificate in respect of a Merecedes-Benz 230 SLK sports car, registration number 97 D 54589, and other documents in respect of bank accounts.

Mr Man said he seized that documentation. On November 24th, he called to the home of a man who showed him the car. The man told him the defendant had asked him to look after it.

The same man showed him handwritten notes belonging to the defendant. The notes contained a price list of spirits which, Mr Man said, it appeared the defendant was selling below cost. It also appeared the defendant was offering a box of prawns for sale at some £40 below cost. Similar boxes were in his restaurant.