Businessman accused of stealing €200,000 Covid-19 PPE investment sent for trial
The Wicklow PeopleA Dublin man accused of stealing €200,000 invested in a Covid-19 PPE venture has been sent forward for trial.
Evan Rothwell (61), of The Richmond, Brunswick Street, Dublin, appeared before Bray District Court charged with 53 counts of theft.
It is alleged the complainant entered into an investment partnership with Mr Rothwell to import PPE equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The complainant allegedly invested €200,000, but no equipment was ever purchased.
Mr Rothwell is accused of gambling away the invested funds, with gardaí allegedly recovering none of the money.
Garda Philip Sheridan told the court he had served the book of evidence on Mr Rothwell.
Judge David Kennedy issued Mr Rothwell with an alibi warning, telling him that he must notify the prosecution if he intends to rely on an alibi at trial.
He also directed the accused to instruct his solicitor, Peter Connolly, to make an application to the Circuit Criminal Court for a legal aid certificate for counsel, as legal aid had previously been granted.
Mr Rothwell is due to appear at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court on October 6.