A man has appeared in court after being caught in possession of 10 stolen mobile phones.
Gardai stopped Sabin Rostas at a routine checkpoint at Oldtown in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on February 24th last and discovered the phones.
A Garda investigation showed the phones had been stolen at a number of local bars earlier.
Rostas was arrested and when the charges were put to the accused man, he replied: “I did not take the phones.”
The 28-year-old from The Green in Convoy, who denies the charges, appeared at Falcarragh District Court.
Rostas’ solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher applied for bail but Gardai objected.
Garda Niall Murphy said he had fears that the accused man would leave the country.
Mr Gallagher said his client could surrender his passport and identity card to the court but Garda Murphy said this would not prevent the accused travelling to the United Kingdom.
Judge Paul Kelly said he was refusing bail because Rostas had a history of failing to take bench warrants.
The case was adjourned to next Monday by videolink.
Gardai said there may also be further charges against Rostas brought before the court.