A 47-year-old Polish man was selling “dodgy boxes” and other technical equipment which had the potential to deprive Sky television of revenue of €750,000 a court was told today (Wed). Daniel Oleskow who is resident in this country since 2007 but is of no fixed abode appeared at Trim Circuit Court today accused of selling the boxes which provide unauthorised access to TV channels and streaming service. The offences were alleged to have occurred in 2018.
Detective Garda Pat Muldowney told the court that he searched a shop named Mediatech at Brews Hill, Navan he found 586 decoders, 18 USB sticks, 18 micro cards, and 47 Sky remote controls, and 198 low noise blockers. On 3rd April 2018 he had arrested the defendant and charged him with copyright breaches. In first interview with defendant he denied committing any offence but in a second interview admitted selling the boxes and equipment. All the equipment seized represented a total loss of revenue to Sky TV of €746,760, Garda Muldowney said. The defendant was not an agent for Sky and did not have authorisation to have the equipment. The defendant told him he had bought the equipment “in a market”.
The court was told that defendant had 27 previous convictions for various offences and was currently serving a sentence. Defending barrister Shane Kelly said that while his client’s brother, who lived outside this jurisdiction, was a partner in the business he did not take an active role in the shop. Mr Kelly said there was no camouflage in operating the shop and no underhandedness and his client felt he was running a legitimate business.
Judge John Martin commented “He wasn’t a Sky agent and he was in possession of dodgy boxes and he thought that was legitimate? That’s like saying I didn’t realise when I broke into a person’s house that that was wrong until I was charged with it. There was a degree of recklessness”.
Mr Kelly said his client now realised he was wrong and he was asking for leniency. He had three children through two relationships. Separately, Detective Garda James Morris told the court that he had recovered drugs valued at €63,049 from defendant’s then home on 19th February last year. On the “dodgy boxes” charges Judge Martin sentenced defendant to three years imprisonment dating from 4th October last. On the drugs charges he sentenced defendant to two and a half years, consecutive to the three years already imposed. He suspended the last 12 months of the second sentence.
