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Fugitive Ex-Niemeyer Director Natalio Grueso Arrested in Portugal After Two Years on the Run

He now remains in Portuguese custody under a European arrest warrant as authorities prepare his transfer to Spain.

Overview

  • Grueso was detained in southern Portugal and placed at the disposal of the Évora court, according to his lawyer.
  • Reports differ on the exact location of the arrest, with outlets citing Olhão, Évora, or a southern fishing town.
  • He is serving an eight-year sentence for continued embezzlement and document falsification tied to his 2009–2011 tenure at the Centro Niemeyer, with €78,819 identified as malversated.
  • Spanish authorities ordered his immediate imprisonment in July 2023 after denying a suspension request linked to a pardon bid backed by several cultural figures.
  • After he left known addresses and went missing, a European arrest warrant and international requisition led to his capture; he remains in police custody pending handover to Spain.