TWO Romanian national brothers pleaded guilty today to controlling women for prostitution in Northern Ireland.
Spartacus Mihai (20), of Henly Road, Ilford, in Essex, and Decebal Mihai (28), of Kenlis Street, Banbridge, Co Down, appeared at Belfast Crown Court to be formally arraigned on a total of 27 charges.
The brothers both pleaded guilty to the offence of controlling prostitution of a number of women called 'J'Adore' and 'Elsie' on dates between December 2013 and May 2017.
They also jointly pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to traffick women for sexual exploitation.
Spartacus Mihai pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property of £12,015 in cash on dates between December 2014 and January 2017.
He further admitted converting criminal property, namely cash to the value of £14,451.55p between April 2016 and May 2017.
Decebal Mihai pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property, namely cash to the value of £92,529.73p between December 2013 and May 2017.
He further admitted a separate charge of coverting criminal property totalling £53,473.15p on dates between January 2014 and May 2017.
Prosecution lawyer Rosemary Walsh asked Belfast Recorder for nine charges to be "left on the books in the usual terms''. These related to human trafficking and Proceeds of Crime offences.
Defence barrister Joel Lindsay for Spartacus Mihai told the court that his instructions were that the defendants wanted to proceed to sentencing without reports from the Probation Service.
However, Judge McFarland said that in the circumstances he would have to order pre-sentence reports.
The judge remanded the brothers back into custody to await sentencing next month.
No details were given in court about the nature of the charges, but an earlier hearing prosecutors claimed four women were sexually exploited who earned in excess of £125,000 from the sex trade.
The brothers were arrested in May last year following searches of properties in Banbridge and the Newtownards Road in east Belfast.
During a High Bail application last June, a senior judge was told the brothers were allegedly observed driving women to clients for sex, including trips to hotels.
Further research was said to have uncovered bank accounts and moneygram transfers of cash to Romania.
A Crown lawyer claimed £100,000 earned from the prostitution racket over a three-year period was deposited in Northern Ireland.
A further £26,000 was said to have been wired to Romania.
Decebal Mihai denied the charges when first arrested and told police that since moving to Northern Ireland he earned money as a labourer or working at a car wash.
