THREE people have appeared before the court in connection with an alleged prostitution ring.

Two others had been due before Swindon magistrates this morning but failed to turn up at court. Their cases were adjourned to December.

The gang-of-five stands accused of arranging for women to travel from Romania to the UK, where they would work in the sex industry. Cash was laundered here and sent back to Romania, prosecutors allege.

Cristina Olaru, 27, of Oakwood Road, Eastleaze, Victoria Olaru, 23, of Rovinari, Romania, and Priyantha Yakdehige, 51, of Vasterne Close, Purton, entered no pleas to charges put to them.

They were granted unconditional bail to attend Swindon Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on December 4.

Gigi Ciobanica, 43, of Oakwood, Eastleaze, and Danut Cretu, 25, of no fixed address, did not attend court. Their cases were adjourned to early December.

The case follows a series of raids on suspected brothels across Swindon in November 2018. Five people were identified as potential victims of modern slavery.

Following those raids, Det Insp Mark Wilkinson of Wiltshire Police’s serious crime department, said: “The public can help make it harder for people that want to exploit others by being vigilant. For example, if they see a stream of different men visiting an address at all hours of the day or night it may be an indicator that the address is being used as a brothel. They might see workers appear to be distressed, anxious, disorientated, or withdrawn. They could be potential victims of human trafficking or other exploitation.”

READ MORE: Six arrested on slavery charges as police raid suspected brothels around Swindon

The three individuals who attended court were:

Cristina Olaru, 27, of Oakwood Road, Eastleaze, entered no pleas to the following charges:

  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited by arranging accommodation for the women with an individual. The charge is an offence under the Modern Slavery Act 2015
  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited by arranging women’s travel from Romania
  • Received money from an individual for tax avoidance between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018
  • Acquired criminal cash, namely the proceeds of prostitution, between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018
  • Transferred criminally-acquired money from England to Romania between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018

Victoria Olaru, 23, of Rovinari, Romania, entered no pleas to allegations that:

  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, she arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited by paying for flights from Romania for the purposes of sexual exploitation
  • Transferred criminally-acquired money by receiving it into her bank account then withdrew it as cash between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018
  • Sent criminally-acquired cash from the UK to Romania between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018

Priyantha Takdehige, 51, of Vasterne Close, Purton, entered no pleas to the following charges:

  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, he arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited
  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, he arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited, namely moved women from one property within the UK to another for the purposes of sexual gratification
  • Money laundering: between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, entered into an arrangement which he knew or suspected facilitated the control of criminal property, namely cash
  • Laundered cash between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018, which was the proceeds of prostitution
  • Received payments into his bank account between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, and paid out the money to a prostitute

Two did not attend court, they were:

Gigi Ciobanica, 43, of Oakwood, Eastleaze, faces the following charges:

  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited by paying for flights from Romania
  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited by driving her to outcalls
  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited by collecting her from the airport and driving her to known brothels
  • Acquired criminal property, namely the earnings of a woman between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018
  • Transferred criminally-acquired cash from England to Romania between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018

Danut Cretu, 25, of no fixed address is accused of the following charges, but did not attend court:

  • Transferred criminally-acquired money from England to Romania between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018
  • Between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018, arranged or facilitated the travel of a woman with a view to her being exploited