THIS is the man convicted for sending "menacing" online communications following a police probe into exploitation and intimidation of south Belfast's Roma community.
Daniel Serban is seen pictured with Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir while wearing the Lord Mayor of Belfast's chain of office.
The 41-year-old's conviction is understood to relate to the sharing online of images of intimidating posters put up in south Belfast last year.
Posters had appeared on walls which named and made false allegations about two Early Years staff who worked closely with the Roma community.
It came after whistleblowers had contacted the Belfast Trust alleging that a community organisation was charging Roma "large sums of money" for what should be free benefits advice – and "fraudulently filling out benefits applications without their consent".
The trust in response moved its Early Years services from the organisation's Holylands offices to another venue, citing concerns of "exploitation and community control".
The charity, the Romanian Roma Community Association of Northern Ireland (RRCANI), strongly denied the allegations. It has also insisted the organisation had no involvement with the intimidating posters.
At the time the allegations began circulating online, Mr Ó Muilleoir tweeted his support for the group, dismissing the claims as "junk" and saying he was "proud to stand with RRCANI".
Mr Ó Muilleoir had also written to the trust criticising the decision to move children's services from RRCANI.
The South Belfast MLA later said in a statement that Sinn Féin is "opposed to all forms of racism, exploitation and intimidation" and called for a thorough police investigation.
The picture of Serban wearing the mayoral chain was taken when Mr Ó Muilleoir was Belfast lord mayor around five years ago – long before last year's RRCANI controversy emerged.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Ó Muilleoir said he had his picture taken as mayor with thousands of people.
"I do not know Mr Serban and condemn any intimidation he or anyone else carried out against hard-working daycare workers," he said.
"Anyone with information about this activity should do as I did by bringing all information to the PSNI."
He said Sinn Féin "has not had any involvement or engagement with RRCANI since these malicious posters were distributed".
Mr Ó Muilleoir, a former Stormont finance minister, is believed to be leaving politics.
In 2017 he was Sinn Féin's Westminster election hopeful, but the party is not fielding a candidate in the constituency this time to make way for other anti-Brexit parties.
Serban, of Tildarg Street in Belfast, was convicted in his absence last Thursday of improper use of an electronic communications network.
A second man – Florin Bondor (32), of Thorndale Avenue in the north of the city – has been brought to court charged with the same offence.
He denies the charge and the case at Belfast Magistrates Court has been adjourned until later this week.
Both were accused of sending "by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that was of a menacing character" in October last year.
Serban, a member of the Roma community in Northern Ireland, had entered a not guilty plea but was convicted on Thursday at Laganside courthouse in his absence. His case has also been adjourned until later this week.
The PSNI last week confirmed its wider investigation is ongoing.
"Our investigation into exploitation and criminality affecting the Roma Community, led by Criminal Investigation Branch in Belfast, is continuing," a spokeswoman said.
She thanked those who have come forward so far and appealed for anyone in the community with information to phone police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
