County Roscommon resident charged with human trafficking remanded in custody
Two men who are facing charges of human trafficking and money laundering have been remanded in custody with consent to bail following a court appearance in County Cork. Pic. iStock
Two men who are facing charges of human trafficking and money laundering have been remanded in custody with consent to bail following a court appearance in County Cork. It is alleged that the accused were part of a criminal gang that brought vulnerable people from Slovakia to Ireland and exploited their labour.
Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan told the court that the State was awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and asked for both men to be remanded in custody.
Marian Vavrek, 46, of 5 Kontiki, Roosky, County Roscommon and Ladislav Bubencik, 32 of Railway Road, Charleville, County Cork appeared before Judge Colm Roberts at Mallow District Court. The two men who are both from Slovakia but resident in Ireland were granted bail with strict conditions at Midleton District Court last week.
Ladislav Bubencik faces three counts of human trafficking and 20 counts of money laundering while Mr Vavrek faces three counts of human trafficking and one count of money laundering.
The court heard that Marian Vavrek had not taken up bail that was granted by Judge John King last week and Judge Roberts expressed concern that he may not fully understand the conditions. No Slovak interpreter was available in court but a Polish interpreter was provided and Mr Vavrek was able to follow proceedings in Polish.
Judge Roberts told Mr Vavrek’s solicitor Denis Linehan that he was extending legal aid to allow for the terms of his client’s bail to be translated into Slovakian and fully explained to him.
Charles O’Connor, solicitor for Ladislav Bubencik told the court that his client’s brother who was acting as surety had brought a bank draft for €20,000 to court as required under his bail conditions. Judge Roberts accepted the surety and told Mr Bubencik that if he took up bail he must turn up in court for the next hearing.
Both men were remanded in custody with consent to bail with the next hearing date fixed for Mallow District Court on March 26th.
