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Former Niemeyer Director Natalio Grueso Arrested in Portugal After Two Years on the Run

His arrest on a European warrant triggers extradition proceedings to return him to Spain.

Overview

  • Portuguese police detained Grueso and, according to his lawyer, he has been placed before the Tribunal of Évora while remaining in custody.
  • He is wanted to serve an eight-year sentence for continued embezzlement and related corporate offenses tied to his management of the Centro Niemeyer.
  • The conviction was issued in 2020 and became final in April 2023, after which a court ordered his immediate imprisonment and he disappeared.
  • Spanish judicial authorities issued a European arrest warrant and an international requisition, and cross-border cooperation led to his capture.
  • Reports differ on the exact arrest location in Portugal, with accounts citing Olhão, Évora, or a southern fishing village, as authorities prepare his surrender to Spain.