A 57 year old Latvian national who was refused High Court bail on suspicion of human trafficking a woman into the country for the purpose of exploitation has been served with two further charges.
Dainis Grinfelds, with an address at Dublin Street, Monaghan town, was brought before a sitting of Monaghan District Court where details surrounding both charges were brought before Judge Raymond Finnegan.
Both charges fall under Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 and took place on dates unknown between February and December 2015.
The first alleges Mr Grinfelds 'did traffick' a named female for the purpose of exploitation within the State between April 12 and August 9, 2015 and the second charge relates to a second named female for the purpose of exploiting her on dates between February 1 and December 3 on ths same year.
Dective Garda Temple said Mr Grinfelds had recently been refused High Court bail in relation to an “associated human trafficking charge” and where the accused had previously appeared before Monaghan District Court charged with the human trafficking of a woman for the purpose of exploitation last June.
Detective Garda Philip Temple from the Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-ordination Unit at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.
He siad directions had also been received from DPP for Mr Grinfelds to be sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court to stand trial on two counts of human trafficking and one count of attempted human trafficking.
The court was told that Mr Grinfelds will have his case tried before a judge and jury when it goes to trial.
The maximum tariff upon conviction on indictment in accordance with the state’s human trafficking laws can carry a term of up to life in prison.
Legal aid was also granted to Mr Grinfelds in respect of the two additional charges.
Judge Finnegan ordered reporting restrictions to be imposed concerning the identification of the alleged victims in the case and remanded Mr Grinfelds in continuing custody to appear back before the same court next Monday (January 26) via video link.
