A 20-year-old Vietnamese man has appeared at Monaghan District Court today accused of making false claims that he was a victim of human trafficking.
The alleged charge centres around the accused knowingly making a false report to Gardai.
Viet Cung of Ablana Senior College, Ablana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire Co Dublin made alleged accusations to Monaghan Gardai that he was a victim of human trafficking and that he was beaten by his captures. Detective Garda Joel Collins gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution. The court was told that he told Gardai at Monaghan Garda Station that he walked for 10 hours across the countryside to get help at the local station on May 13th of this year.
Following an examination of his mobile phone, Gardai say this contradicted his account of his claims, in fact 4 hours previous to arriving at Monaghan Garda Station he had been in Belfast according to his device.
During a contested bail application, the court was told that Gardai were objecting to bail for a number of reasons, one being that the accused had no ID on him and Gardai are unable to fully identify him as who he says he is.
During the hearing, Mr Cung said "I was beaten, it's true".
Judge Raymond Finnegan allowed bail to be granted with a number of strict conditions including an independent surety of 500, evidence of an address, and an evidence of ID, Judge Finnegan remanded the accused with consent to bail until a sitting of Cavan District Court tomorrow morning.
