Four men have appeared in court in connection with a Garda investigation into alleged credit card fraud in Cork city.
The men were arrested in the city on Saturday night and yesterday morning.
Najim Mir (38), Shandon Street, Cork, and Mohammed Majid (38), Jones Road, London, England, were charged with offences relating to credit card fraud under the Criminal Justice Act 2001 at Cork District Court yesterday.
The men were allegedly found in possession of Tesco club cards and scanning equipment used to read magnetic strip data on the cards.
Both men were detained at a rented house at Elmvale Avenue, Wilton, Cork, following a Garda surveillance operation.
Det Garda Damien Maloney told the court that gardaí feared Mr Majid would flee the jurisdiction if released and also that they were unsure of his exact identity.
Judge Uinsin MacGruairc refused to grant bail and remanded Mr Majid to Cork Prison. He will appear at Cork District Court on June 8th.
Gardaí made no objection to bail in the case of Mr Mir, who has been living in Ireland since 2003.
The court was told by Denis Healy, solicitor for Mr Mir, that his client was a specialist Muslim butcher.
Judge MacGruairc remanded Mr Mir with consent to bail of €1,000 with an independent surety of €1,000.
He is to appear at Cork District Court on June 8th.
The two other accused men, both with London addresses, appeared at Cork District Court last night.
Ali Raza (48), North Green, Leyton, and Mohammed Kahleed (25), Gilbey's Yard, Oval Road, were charged with offences relating to alleged credit card fraud.
The court was told the men made no reply to the charges when arrested by gardaí.
Both accused were remanded in custody to appear at Cork District Court on June 8th.
A fifth man was released without charge yesterday evening.
A file is being prepared by gardaí for the Director of Public Prosecutions.