A man extradited from Romania to Ireland last night, who is accused of money laundering and setting up bogus companies, has been remanded in custody.
25-year-old Alexandru Robert Olteanu, of no fixed abode in Ireland but with a previous address in Middlesex, England, was arrested at Dublin Airport last night and brought to Bridewell Garda Station where he was charged.
He was brought to the Criminal Courts of Justice where he appeared before Judge Gráinne Malone this morning.
Detective Garda Ciaran Ronan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) told the court that Mr Olteanu had been arrested in Romania on a European Arrest Warrant before being sent to Ireland.
Det Ronan also said that Mr Olteanu made no reply when charged.
The arrest was part of Operation OMENA, an intelligence-led GNECB investigation into fraudulent selling on second-hand websites across Europe and the subsequent laundering of the proceeds of these crimes through a network of bank accounts opened by using false identities.
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Another man in his late 20s was arrested and charged on 28 January last as part of this investigation. He appeared before the CCJ on 29 January.
Mr Olteanu is accused of 11 counts of money laundering totalling €250,000 in alleged crime proceeds.
He is also accused of using false documents including fake IDs to set up companies, and one charge of theft.
Mr Olteanu only addressed the court today to explain his legal representation.
An objection to bail was made as Mr Olteanu was deemed a flight risk and an application for legal aid was deferred.
Mr Olteanu has been remanded in custody at Cloverhill Prison until 11 February pending preparation of a book of evidence.
The DPP has recommended a trial on indictment.
