A man arrested in a Dublin apartment during a Garda operation targeting the Kinahan organised crime gang has been refused bail on bogus passport charges.

Naoufal Fassih (35) was refused bail by Judge Cormac Dunne at Dublin District Court on Friday.

Gardaí objected to legal aid, saying he was “a man of means” who was wearing runners costing €800. They had found three watches worth €83,000 at the apartment where was arrested, they added.

Mr Fassih is charged with three offences under the Theft and Fraud Act for possessing false Belgian and Dutch passports and using them to incite another person to believe they were real. He was arrested at an apartment on Lower Baggott Street on April 7th last, the court heard.

Drugs charge

He is also charged with an offence under the Immigration Act and a minor drugs charge for simple possession of cannabis.

The bail hearing was held over three days and concluded on Friday.

Garda Eoin Kane, of Kevin Street station’s drugs unit, told Judge Dunne he was objecting to bail. He said the man was arrested during an operation targeting members of the Kinahan organised crime gang.

Gardaí later established his real name and that he was a Dutch national of Moroccan origin.

Judge Dunne noted gardaí objected to bail on the grounds Mr Fassih was a “flight risk”.

He said he would not agree to a request from defence counsel Keith Spencer to adjourn ruling on the bail issue.

Counsel had said he needed a chance to canvass whether an independent surety was available to stand bail for his client.

Refusing bail, Judge Dunne said the accused presented to the court that his Dutch and Belgian passports were valid and lawful. However, the court was later told the documents were false.

The court heard the defence was applying for free legal aid, but gardaí had objected.

Garda Kane said Mr Fassih was “a man of means”. He said when he was arrested in the apartment, gardaí also found €300, £12,825, a Rolex watch worth €8,350, another Rolex watch valued at €35,000 and an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak limited edition Michael Schumacher watch.

Certified valuations

Judge Dunne asked whether that was the Rolls Royce of watches and Garda Kane replied it was valued at €40,000. He provided the court with certified valuations of the watches.

He also told the court “the runners he is wearing are over €800”.

Counsel for Mr Fassih said his client would say the owner of the apartment was the owner of the watches.

Judge Dunne deferred ruling on the legal aid issue.

Mr Fassih was remanded in custody until April 22nd to appear at Cloverhill District Court.

Directions from the DPP have to be obtained and a decision has to be made on whether the case will remain in the jurisdiction of the district court or instead go forward on indictment to the circuit court.

The charge for using false documentation can carry a maximum 10-year sentence.

The accused has not yet entered a plea.