Joao Manuel de Oliveira Rendeiro was arrested in Umhlanga in Durban on Saturday. He made a brief appearance at the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
De Oliveira Rendeiro was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in Portugal before he escaped.
The fugitive who arrived in the country in September was wanted by Interpol’s National Crime Bureau after being convicted on three counts of fraud amounting to millions of dollars in Portugal.
South African law enforcement agencies were alerted in November that De Oliveira Rendeiro might be in the country. A few weeks later he was arrested in uMhlanga.
He made a brief court appearance. The case has sparked interest from many international media organisations.
The South African Police Service says De Oliveira Rendeiro is not facing any charges in this country. His bail application is expected to kick-start the process of extradition.
“Magistrate decided to adjourn the bail application for Tuesday adding that this arrest happened after a person in question was placed on a red list,” says NPA’s Natasha Kara.
VIDEO: Portuguese fugitive appearing in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court
