Contacted by Lusa, a source from the Évora Court of Appeal stated that the suspects were detained by the Judiciary Police (PJ) on Tuesday in the Évora area and were presented today to that court for interrogation in the context of an extradition process. After being heard, they consented to their extradition to Brazil.
The same source indicated that since some formalities still need to be completed in extradition processes, and given the complexity of the case, the detention of the two women was maintained, and their transfer to a prison facility was ordered, where they will await further procedural steps.
The Judiciary Police disclosed today in a statement that the women, aged 33 and 32, both foreigners, were detained in the Évora area by members of the Criminal Information Unit after “persistent information gathering and surveillance efforts.”
According to the PJ, the detainees are “sought by Brazilian judicial authorities for crimes of criminal association and qualified fraud” committed last year in a city in the State of Goiás, Brazil.
The PJ stated, “Through a scheme involving a supposed financial company, they approached clients who believed they were applying for financial credit to purchase a vehicle.”
In reality, the PJ noted, the company “was formalizing a consultancy contract for obtaining financing without clarifying the terms to the client.”
The suspects are said to have been “repeatedly involved in fraud and organized crime through a structured group dedicated to committing crimes using fake financing companies in vehicle resales,” emphasized the PJ.
The scheme reportedly caused losses of “several thousand euros,” and the PJ highlighted that the women “may face a sentence of up to eight years in prison.”
According to the PJ, both women are in an irregular situation in Portugal and, despite not officially engaging in any professional activity, they collaborate with an online sales company, particularly in shipping sold clothes.
