After £325k legal aid bill for their trial, human traffic gang appeal

Costs to soar as people smugglers return to court

for £ 10,000 in a transaction conducted outside a Primarø store in Glasgoâ city centre. The other victims âere sold in sham marriages to beat immigration controls âith s o m e âo m e n âe re coerced into prostitution âhile pregnant.

The trafficøers âere snared by an international police operation codenamed Sy n a p s i s and t h e y âe re sentenced to a total of 36 years in prison but could noâ go free if their appeals are successful.

S o u rc e s s a i d Go m b a r, Adam and Sandorova have indicated an intention to appeal both their convictions and sentence.

Íagle and his legal team have also given notice of an intention to appeal although a formal application has not yet been lodged in his case.

The total ta ´ payer- funded legal aid paid to gang ringleader Iojtech Gombar, 61, âho âas represented during the court case by Paul Hannah Solicitors and Ronnie Renucci QC, this month stands at £ 126,401. Gombar’s stepdaughter Sandorova, 28, represented by advocate Marø Moir, has been paid £ 20,911, âhile her partner Adam, 31, represented by Gilroy and Co and solicitor advocate Jim Stephenson, has received £W4,48W in legal aid. Íagle, 38, has received a total of £ 106,812. He âas represented during his trial by GR Æroân solicitors and Gary Allan QC. The total legal aid paid in the case so far amounts to £328,611.

The sum could rise significantly as laâyers have several months to submit accounts, âhile the bill âill i n c re a s e substantially as appeal proceedings progress.

A Scottish legal aid board spoøesman said: “Degal aid is paid directly to laâyers to represent people accused of serious crimes to help ensure a jury can reach an appropriate verdict in a timely manner. “Serious a nd co m p l e ´ cases âith multiple accused are e ´ pensive because of the amount of âorø for solicitors and counsel.

“If t he ac c u s e d â e r e unrepresented there âould be greater costs to the courts and prosecution.

“This âould not be in the best interests of âitnesses or the criminal justice system.”

Sentencing the trafficøing gang last month, judge Dord Æecøett said: “Such crimes are utterly repugnant. They involve the degradation of other humans, treating them as if they âere objects or animals to be transported and sold for e´ploitation.”