Human trafficking Circuit Court case
Two Romanian men will appear before Sligo Circuit Criminal Court this week charged with human trafficking another man at a car wash in Sligo two years ago.
Augustin Covaci (35) of Seaview Drive, Cartron Point and Sorin Cirpaci (40) of Fortwell Court, Letterkenny are accused of trafficking Mr Gheorgha Bogdan from 28th May to 9 th September 2015 at a car wash on Pearse Road, Sligo.
The case will be the first prosecution under updated Human Trafficking legislation brought in by the Government. The crime carries the maximum penalty on conviction from 14 years to life imprisonment.
Cirpaci had a Book of Evidence served on him at Sligo District Court last Thursday.
Cirpaci told the court he had been living in Ireland for the past 18 years and would not require an interpreter for his trial at the Circuit Court.
Judge Kevin Kilrane remanded Cirpaci on continuing cash bail of ¤2,000 to appear before Sligo Circuit Criminal Court today, Tuesday July 18th.
His bail conditions are that he must reside at Fortwell Court, Letterkenny, sign on at Letterkenny Garda Station every Wednesday, be of good behaviour, not interfere with any witnesses and surrender his passport and Driver’s Licence.
His defence solicitor Mr Kieran O’Gorman told Judge Kilrane that Cirpaci had already surrendered his passport. He said his client was a father of five children and received ¤500 a week.
Covaci has been out on ¤500 cash bail since a Sligo District Court appearance last February.
He was first arrested in January and taken to Ballymote Garda Station where he was charged and cautioned.
Detective Garda Michael Carr told the court last January that he arrested the accused at 7.50am at his home at Cartron before bringing him to Bally- mote Garda Station where he was subsequently charge.
In reply to the charge the accused said: “I’m not guilty with anything. I didn’t force Gheorgha to do anything.”
His defence solicitor, Mr Seamus Monaghan, then said that Covaci had been living in Sligo for the past two and a half years and was a father of four.
Both men are due before the court at 10.30am today (Tues).