Extradition from SA for one of UK’s most wanted

12 August 2014 - 11:47 By Shenaaz Jamal
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One of the United Kingdom’s most wanted fugitives will soon be on a plane to London after a South African court approved his extradition on Monday.

Martin Evans, 52, from Swansea in Wales, appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday and will remain behind bars until Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha signs off on the extradition.

In 2006 Evans was convicted by the Swansea Crown Court on charges of conspiracy to supply drugs, fraud, theft, contempt of court and absconding.

He was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment, but fled the country after being released in 2011 on a licence allowing him out of prison temporarily. The licence is granted to those nearing their permanent release dates in a bid to try and reintegrate them into society.

It is unclear when Evans arrived in South Africa, but the South African Police Service’s National Crime Agency became aware that the fugitive had sought refuge in the country and, in a joint operation with Interpol, they arrested him earlier this month at his Midrand home.

Evans will serve the remainder of his sentence when he returns to the United Kingdom. Evans’s lawyer, William Karam, told the court that Evans did not plan to appeal the decision to extradite him.

Evans will remain in the Pretoria Central Prison until his extradition.

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