Man accused of running five brothels in Dublin denied bail

Stelian Ciuciu (31) leased the properties with fake Romanian identity documents and transferred the rent to the landlords during a three-year operation, it is alleged.

The accused, who is “stateless” was refused bail at Dublin District Court after gardaí said he had been living “like a ghost” in Ireland and they feared he would flee the country or interfere with witnesses if freed.

Judge Treasa Kelly remanded him in custody, for the directions of the DPP to be given.

Mr Ciuciu, with an address at Brookdale Walk, Swords, Co Dublin is charged with 15 separate offences: five counts of organising prostitution, six of money laundering, two of deception and two using false instruments.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on dates between 2020 and this year.

Detective Garda Colm Grogan of the National Protective Services Bureau said the accused made no response to any of the charges when they were put to him at Coolock garda station in the early hours of this morning.

Objecting to bail, he said it was alleged that the accused secured leases to five properties in Dublin using false documents; that he organised prostitution in the properties and laundered money from those activities through multiple bank accounts.

The money laundering charges related to cash lodgements allegedly made by the accused into accounts.

Gardai had evidence of transfers totalling €10,850 made from an account controlled by Mr Ciuciu to landlords while he had no legitimate source of income, the court heard.

Transfers were for four of the properties while the fifth was paid to the landlord in cash on a monthly basis.

According to gardai, when the properties were searched, they were all being used for the purpose of habitual prostitution by more than one sex worker at any one time.

It was alleged the workers had been instructed that if gardai called they were to tell them they were “very safe,” and that the landlord was on holiday.

The identity documents used had been accepted by an Irish government department but had been “proven to be false” by the Romanian authorities, Det Gda Grogan said.

Gardai believed Mr Ciuciu was a “severe” flight risk as he could access false documents that would allow him to leave the country if granted bail.

They also feared he would interfere with vulnerable witnesses.

“It’s envisaged that a substantial number of further serious charges will be proffered,” Det Gda Grogan said.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Stephen O’Mahony said the accused had ties to Ireland as he had been here for 17 years and had three children with his partner here, as well as extended family.

He said Mr Ciuciu’s background and status were unusual as he had been born in Germany but was “stateless” and had not finished the asylum process in Ireland. However, he had been given leave to remain and was legally in the country.

Det Gda Grogan was reluctant to accept that the accused had children without proof.

The accused had exercised his right to silence and made no comment in six garda interviews, but “didn’t accept any of the allegations that were put to him,” Mr O’Mahony said.

Mr Ciuciu's father was in court and offering €5,000 for bail. The accused could be in custody for three years awaiting trial if refused bail, Mr O'Mahony said.

Judge Kelly said Mr Ciuciu was presumed innocent, but she refused bail and remanded him in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on December 12.