Trafficked workers brought to Donegal were 'treated like slaves'

Georgjis Poniza and Armen Pogosyan appeared for sentencing at Letterkenny Circuit Court after pleading guilty to offences connected to people trafficking for labour exploitation. Seventeen charges each related to seven victims brought into the country to work at businesses in County Donegal between December 2020 and October 2023. The charges included people trafficking, money laundering, forgery, and participation in a criminal organisation, along with making gain or causing loss under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The victims reported being recruited by deception in Latvia and promised employment and accommodation without bills. A large-scale Garda investigation over two years focused on providing workers to businesses in South Donegal, and there was no wrongdoing alleged against the companies involved.

"Georgjis Poniza (37) and Armen Pogosyan (30), both with an address at Assaroe Falls in Ballyshannon appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court before Judge John Aylmer for sentencing. The pair faced 17 charges each in relation to a people trafficking investigation relating to seven people who were brought into the country to work at a number of businesses in County Donegal on various dates from December 2020 to October 2023. The pair faced charges relating to money laundering, forgery and participating in the activity of a criminal organisation."

"The pair are also charged with making gain or causing loss, contrary to section six of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. The pair have been in custody since their arrest in October 2023 and pleaded guilty last year. They appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court for sentencing and Patricia McLaughlin SC, along with Fiona Crawford BL, outlined the details of the case."

"Ms McLaughlin said the case was the first conviction of its kind in the country for human trafficking of a person for labour exploitation. Detective Garda Patrick Kelly, investigating member, outlined the nature of the case and explained the first complainant had attended a Garda station in Dublin and claimed he had been brought from Lativia to Ireland and subjected to labour exploitation. Garda Kelly explained a large-scale investigation was held over two years which focused on an operation to provide workers to businesses in South Donegal."

"The victims told gardaí they were recruited "by deception" in Latvia and promised employment, accommodation and no bills. Gardai was told that transport was arranged, tickets were purchased for the victims and photographs of t"

Read at Irish Independent