A PORTUGUESE national convicted of charges of tax evasion and money laundering has been denied bail at the Verulam Magistrates’ Court.
Joao Manuel de Oliveira Rendeiro was arrested in uMhlanga on an Interpol Red Notice last week.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Natasha Kara said the 69-year-old was convicted of tax evasion and money laundering amounting to 31 million Euros in Portugal in September this year.
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“He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. He took the matter on appeal and when Portuguese authorities realised that he had absconded, they issued the Red Notice,” she said.
While in custody, authorities in the country received a second international warrant from Portugal for Rendiero’s arrest.
“This pertains to charges of computer forgery and forgery of bulletins and minutes, where he was sentenced to five years and eight months imprisonment. This sentence was finalised, even though Rendeiro had appealed right up to the Constitutional Court,” Kara said.
Regional Court Magistrate Rajesh Parshotham said that Rendeiro is a flight risk.
“Rendeiro has a right to appeal the denial of bail by serving a notice of intention to appeal on the state within 14 days of the judgement. Any appeal against the refusal of bail by a magistrates’ court will be heard by the High Court,” she said.
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