Man sent to Circuit Court over alleged handling of €200,000 for people traffickers
Donegal resident alleged to have handled money via two bank accounts in his name
A man has been sent forward to circuit court in connection with human trafficking and being in possession of over €200,000 in proceeds from criminal conduct.
Tomass Cukars, 26, of Mill Road, Glenties, appeared before Ballyshannon District Court, and was served the book of evidence.
Cukars faces two charges from dates between February 6, 2022, and November 24, 2022.
It is alleged that Cukars enhanced the ability of a criminal organisation to commit the serious offence of human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation within the state. This was allegedly done by opening and permitting others to use accounts with Allied Irish Bank, which were in his name, thus participating in and contributing to an activity of the organisation. The accounts were in branches in Ballyshannon and Dublin. The offence is contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
He is also charged with acquiring, possessing, handling and transferring property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct, to the value of €202,631, while knowingly or being reckless as to whether or not it was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The offence is contrary to Section 7(1)(a)(i), (1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
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Inspector Mick Doherty told the court that the offence was “normally an offence that would automatically go to the Special Criminal Court,” but that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented for the accused person to be returned for trial at Donegal Circuit Court.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham sent forward Cukars to Donegal Circuit Court, sitting in Letterkenny, on June 9.
A Section 56 order, in respect of interviews, was made, and the alibi warning was administered to the defendant.
Solicitor John Anderson, representing the defendant, asked the court to “mark in that bail has been refused” and that “The High Court has refused bail in this matter.”