A MAN is to stand trial accused of trying to infiltrate a government pensions website as part of a major computer hacking operation, a judge has ruled.
Daniel Marincu (32) was allegedly involved in an identity fraud scam uncovered during a raid on a Belfast apartment.
He was arrested after police seized a laptop said to contain bank details for multiple individuals and set up to print counterfeit Spanish La Liga football tickets.
Marincu, a Romanian national of no fixed address, faces charges of possessing articles for use in fraud, fraud by false representation, theft of a bank statement and unauthorised access to computer material.
He was detained when officers swooped on an apartment at Alfred Steet in the city on June 28 last year.
Appearing before Belfast Magistrates' Court today for preliminary enquiry proceedings, Marincu confirmed he understood the allegations against him.
He declined to give evidence or call witnesses during the hearing.
Defence counsel Michael Boyd did not dispute prosecution submissions that Marincu has a case to answer.
A previous court was told Marincu was detained after police carried out an intelligence-led search to identify any victims of people trafficking.
Two women in the flat with him confirmed they were escorts, but denied knowing the accused.
Marincu is not accused of any exploitation or trafficking offences.
Instead, the prosecution contend that a laptop used by him contained a programme capable of accessing other computers.
One of the command windows showed an attempt to get into a government pensions website, it was alleged.
Marincu insists that any computer hacking was carried out by others at the address accessing the laptop.
A date for trial at Belfast Crown Court has yet to be fixed.
