A Brazilian man accused of leasing property to an organised prostitution ring in Ireland has been refused bail for sexually exploiting vulnerable women after a court claimed he was “a member of a major criminal organisation”, reports The Mirror.
Elmar Rodriguez Ribeiro, 52, of no fixed address in Ireland, was arrested at Dublin Airport on Thursday by detectives from the Garda National Protection Service.
It follows a multi-jurisdictional investigation covering 1,500 exhibits and was allegedly done based on complaints from two women who came forward.
Judge Anthony Halpin heard they made complaints to gardaí who believe Ribeiro played a “vital role”, reports The Mirror.
He is accused of committing 16 crimes between 2017 and 2020.
Six charges of fraud by leasing six properties for personal gain in Ballymahon, Co. Longford; City of Kildare; Tullow, Co. Carlow; Carrick on the Shannon, Co Leitrim; and Ballaghaderreen in Co. Roscommon; and in the town of Roscommon.
Eight of them advocated using bills in other names or Italian passports as false security instruments for rental contracts.
The last two involved money laundering charges.
Those crimes, if convicted, carry a maximum sentence of five to 14 years and could lead to “further more serious charges”.
Judge Halpin said: “I cannot tailor conditions that will satisfy this court in relation to this matter to grant bail. I just can’t fathom what conditions would satisfy me having regard to the nature of the bail application,” reports The Mirror.
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