An illegal immigrant who robbed and extorted two fellow nationals out of almost €1,000 has been jailed for five years by Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Donghao Shi (22), Nelson Street, Dublin, from China, was convicted by a jury earlier this month of robbing Ming Quang Zeng and Gensheng Xu and demanding money with menace on November 26th, 2005.
Judge O'Donnell heard that Shi had been in the country illegally after his student visa was rendered invalid when he dropped out of a course at the Dublin Business School. He came to Ireland in July 2004.
Det Garda Damien Murphy told Garnet Orange, prosecuting, that one of the victims knew Shi, having travelled with him to Ireland. He also shared a house with him and studied in the same college.
Shi and other men approached Mr Zeng and Mr Xu and took them to a restaurant on Parnell Street where they demanded and robbed €250 and €688 from them.
Det Garda Murphy agreed with Niall Durnin SC, defending, that Shi had no previous convictions and had been in custody since December 14th last year.
A deportation notice has been served on him which means that on his release from prison, he has seven days to attend at a Garda station to be deported.