Fake licence hearing date for man facing charges of people trafficking in Donegal
The defendant is accused of using a false Latvian driving licence
A hearing date has been set for the case of a man charged with having a false Latvian driving licence and with driving without insurance.
Georgijs Poniza, 36, of Assaroe Falls, The Mall, Ballyshannon appeared before Donegal District Court earlier this month. He is one of two men who had previously been remanded in custody on another matter - they are charged with money laundering and with aiding an international crime gang in human trafficking.
Poniza and his co-accused Armen Pogosyan, 28 and of the same address, have been in Castlerea Prison since being arrested for the alleged offences in October, 2023. The trial for those matters is scheduled to take place before judge and jury at Letterkenny Circuit Court in October. It is anticipated that the trial will last for six weeks at Letterkenny courthouse.
The charges against Poniza which relate to motoring offences are being heard in Donegal District Court.
He is charged that on February 8, 2022 at Meenabradden, Inver, he drove without insurance. And at Townparks, Ballyshannon, on March 30, 2023 he used a false instrument, namely a Latvian driving licence. He is also charged with having the alleged false instrument in his possession.
The matter had been due for hearing on May 7 but was adjourned due to a last-minute change of legal representation.
At his most recent court appearance, Poniza was represented by Barrister Kathleen Henry instructed by Ciaran O’Brien solicitors.
She explained that when the hearing could not go ahead on May 7, it was adjourned to the July court to fix a hearing date.
Inspector Anthony Coyle said that while the defendant had been granted bail on the motoring matters, he was in custody in Castlerea Prison.
Judge Brendan O’Reilly set a hearing date of September 3, and issued a production order for Poniza to be brought from prison to attend court.