The High Court has ordered Gheorghita Purcariu to be surrendered to Romania to serve a two-year-and-six-month prison sentence for offences involving human trafficking and participation in an organised criminal group.
Romanian authorities said Purcariu was involved between 2010 and 2012 in recruiting, transporting and accommodating women for sexual exploitation in Dublin, Letterkenny and Longford.
Additional information supplied to the High Court described one victim, C.D., as having been recruited with a false promise of work in Ireland. The Romanian authorities said that after she arrived, Purcariu and others provided clothing, advertised her online for escort services, set prices for sexual services and required her to hand over the proceeds.
Purcariu challenged surrender on several grounds. He argued that the European arrest warrant lacked sufficient detail and that the offences did not properly correspond to Irish offences. The court rejected those claims. The warrant had been certified under European arrest warrant categories for participation in a criminal organisation and trafficking in human beings. Mr Justice Burns also held that the conduct could, if necessary, correspond with several Irish offences, including human trafficking.
Purcariu also objected because his Romanian sentence was altered on appeal from a suspended three-year term to two years and six months in custody. He said he had been advised by his lawyer that he did not need to attend the final hearing. The High Court found that he knew about the appeal, had attended appeal proceedings and had authorised a lawyer who represented him. His defence rights had therefore been respected.
The court separately rejected arguments based on his partner, child, employment and home in Ireland, finding those circumstances insufficiently exceptional to prevent surrender.
It also accepted specific Romanian assurances that Purcariu would have at least three square metres of personal space in custody and found no real risk of inhuman or degrading treatment.
All objections were dismissed and surrender was ordered.