Men at centre of human trafficking probe in Donegal now to be sentenced together

Two men at the centre of a major human trafficking probe in Donegal will now be sentenced together after the State sought to have an order vaired, which had stated that they be dealt with separately.

Eastern European duo Georgijs Poniza (37) and Armen Pogosyan (30), each with an address at Assaroe Falls, Ballyshannon, face a total of 34 charges (17 each), including seven apiece of people trafficking.

At a recent sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court, Judge John Aylmer said he would deal with Pogosyan’s sentencing in late February at Cavan Circuit Court.

However, Barrister for the State Ms Fiona Crawford BL, brought a fresh application before Judge Aylmer.

Ms Crawford asked for the matter of Pogosyan be adjourned until May to link up with Poniza’s case.

A people trafficking charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, the court heard. 

Ms Crawford told Judge Aylmer that there are seven injured parties in the case, all of different nationalities. The court heard that all seven have prepared victim impact statements, but one would be unavailable for the February date while a Garda assigned as a family liaison officer would be out of the country on that date.

Pogosyan and Poniza have been in custody since their arrest in October 2023.

“The concern of the State is that these people have to give evidence to court this time and at another date in May,” Ms Crawford said. “Prudently, if there was one sentence date it would help in that regard.”

Judge Aylmer said that the accused have been in custody for “a long time” and that he was sympathetic to the position of Pogosyan, who addressed him on the previous occasion.

“I do see the practicality of matters,” Judge Aylmer said at the latest hearing on the matter.”

Judge Aylmer acceded to the application made by Ms Crawford. Pogosyan was remanded in custody to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The pair were due to stand trial before a six-week special sitting of the court in October, but they entered guilty pleas when arraigned. 

 A probation report is available for Pogosyan, but not for Poniza, who was allocated one appointment, but that was not completed. Other possible slots for Poniza to engage were not available from the Prison Service.

Last week, Pogosyan told Judge Aylmer: “I wish to say that I am in prison from 2023, from October 2023. I have did more than a two-year sentence and I am still waiting to get sentenced. 

“It is very difficult mentally. It is very pressure. I have no-one in Ireland. I am far from my family and it is giving me big pressure on my mental health and I am trying to do my best in this prison.

“I have been in prison for nearly 28 months - just waiting. I have nightmare and I cannot stay without my future.”

The men face 17 similar charges, including seven charges each of people trafficking on various dates - offences contrary to section 4(1)(a)(b) and (c) and 4(7) of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008.

They are also facing charges relating to money laundering and forgery.

They have also been charged with participating in the activity of a criminal organisation and they are facing charges relating to money laundering and forgery.

Poniza was charged with being in possession of €51,100 which was the proceeds of criminal conduct and Pogosyan faced a similar charge in respect of €14,060.

The victims in the case cannot be identified with section 11 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 having been cited by counsel.

The case centres around the trafficking of people who were brought into the country to work at a business in south Donegal.

Detectives, accompanied by international colleagues, swooped on the men after a large-scale investigation into the alleged trafficking of persons into Ireland for the purpose of labour exploitation.

Europol officers were in Donegal during an International Law Enforcement Operation, which involved a Joint Investigation Team that was established in conjunction with Law Enforcement in Latvia.

An Garda Síochána’s Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit (HTICU) at GNPSB, the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), Garda Mutual Assistance Section and the Garda Síochána Analysis Service (GSAS) are all involved in the probe.