Argentine Rodolfo Lohrman was one of the fugitives from Vale de Judeus prison. He was arrested in Spain. Rodolfo Lohrman does not want to be sent back to Portugal and refuses his extradition. His lawyer said on Sunday that he wants to be handed over to Argentina instead.
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Rodolfo Lohrman Refuses Extradition To Portugal
During a hearing on Friday, Lohrman told the Central Examination Court of Madrid that he opposed extradition to Portugal. The hearing was held via videoconference with the Examination Court of Alicante where he was arrested. He made it clear that he does not want to return to Portugal and prefers to serve his sentence in Argentina.
Lawyer Lopes Guerreiro:
Because this is the wish that my client already expressed, in 2020, to Portugal, and to Argentina itself, in the request to be transferred to Argentina, and thus serve the remainder of the sentence to which he was sentenced in Portugal there
His lawyer Lopes Guerreiro confirmed his stance. He explained that Lohrman had already requested to be transferred to Argentina in 2020. He wants to serve the rest of his sentence there instead of in Portugal. Guerreiro argued that his client’s wishes should be respected as he had made the request years ago.
On Friday, Lohrman was taken before a judge in Madrid. He will remain in preventive detention till the court decides on the extradition request. Until a final decision is made, he will stay under Spanish custody.
Arrest of Another Fugitive
The other fugitive from Vale de Judeus prison was Mark Roscaleer. He was also arrested in Spain on Thursday. He was taken to the National Court on Sunday. This was confirmed by the national director of Portugal’s Judicial Police Luís Neves and the director general of the Spanish National Police Francisco Pardo Piqueras.
Neves said he expects the European arrest warrant to be executed soon. He believes a decision on extradition will be made in the next few days. However, both fugitives are wanted in other countries too. This means authorities must first determine where they will be sent.
Details Of The Arrest And Extradition Process
Lohrman is a 59 year old Argentine citizen and Roscaleer is a 36 year old Briton. They were arrested in Alicante, Spain. Their arrest was based on an arrest warrant issued by Portugal. Neves explained that this type of warrant is processed faster than other international arrest warrants.
They were the last two of the five men who escaped from Vale de Judeus prison on September 7, 2024. Their arrest was the result of continuous work and cooperation between the Portuguese and Spanish authorities, the PJ stated on Thursday. Police officers worked tirelessly to locate them and bring them back into custody.
European arrest warrants are usually carried out quickly. However, detainees can oppose extradition which may cause delays. Neves said that unless there are unforeseen issues they will be extradited soon. This may delay the process slightly since Lohrman has formally opposed extradition.
Luís Neves said:
If there is no opposition, or other facts that we are unaware of, and if extradition is ordered, it will be carried out in the next few days
He explained that the process for Lohrman and Roscaleer will likely be faster than that of another fugitive recaptured in Morocco in October. That fugitive has Portuguese nationality and is still in Moroccan custody. The involvement of different legal systems can sometimes complicate extradition procedures.
Vale de Judeus Prison Escape Background
On September 7, 2024, five prisoners escaped from Vale de Judeus Prison in Alcoentre in the municipality of Azambuja. The escape was a major event in Portugal which raised concerns about security in the country’s prison system. Authorities immediately launched an extensive manhunt to capture the fugitives.
The escapees included Fábio Loureiro, Fernando Ribeiro Ferreira and Shergili Farjiani besides Lohrman and Roscaleer. Each of these individuals was serving long prison sentences for various crimes.
Fábio Loureiro is 33 and was arrested on October 7 in Tangier Morocco. He is waiting for extradition to Portugal where he must complete his 25 year sentence. His capture was the first significant breakthrough in the case.
A month later Fernando Ribeiro Ferreira who is 61 years old was caught in a small town in Montalegre. He had been sentenced to 24 years in prison. His arrest was seen as another victory for law enforcement efforts.
The last of the five Shergili Farjiani is 40. He was arrested in Italy on December 10, 2024. He had been sentenced to seven years in Portugal. His capture marked the final step in bringing all five escapees back into custody.
The five men were captured due to international cooperation between police forces. Their escape caused concern but authorities have now resolved the situation. The strong collaboration between Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and Italy was crucial in tracking down the fugitives.
The decision on Lohrman extradition is still pending. The Spanish court will have to weigh his request to be sent to Argentina instead of Portugal. If his request is denied then he will likely be sent back to Portugal to complete his sentence. Authorities in Portugal and Spain will continue working together to ensure that the legal process is followed correctly.
