A MAN has secured bail from the High Court pending proceedings for his extradition to serve a 3½ year prison sentence for stealing a number of chickens and a bicycle in his native country more than 15 years ago.
The Romanian authorities are seeking the surrender of Valentin Stan (30) over the theft of the bicycle and chickens in March 1993, when he was 13 years old. The authorities said at least two chickens were consumed.
Stan was convicted of the offences in 1999 and a sentence of 3½ years was imposed but has not been served. Stan has been in Ireland since around 2000 and lives with his partner and their two young children.
He has served a jail sentence here on other charges, including false imprisonment and robbery.
Yesterday, Mr Justice Michael Peart granted Stan bail, pending the approval of an independent surety of €3,000 of which €1,500 must be in cash. He must also lodge a personal bond of €2,000.
The judge said Stan was entitled to bail and adjourned the case to next month. The State had opposed bail on grounds Stan represented a flight risk. Stan was extradited from the UK in 2004 over offences committed here.
In April 2006, Stan was jailed for four years here after admitting charges of false imprisonment and the robbery of bank cards, cash and a phone. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful carnal knowledge of a 14-year-old girl. He had claimed the girl told him she was 18. The Supreme Court later struck down the laws on grounds they were unconstitutional.