A JERSEY accountant arrested in connection with an alleged multi-million tax fraud in Australia will face an extradition hearing next month.
The Australian government is seeking to extradite Philip Eric de Figueiredo (56) on charges related to tax fraud and money laundering.
Yesterday he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court for the third time since being arrested at his St Martin home in December after he returned to the Island for a holiday from his home in Switzerland. Sara O’Donnell, legal adviser for the Attorney General, said that papers requesting Mr de Figueiredo’s extradition were received by the Jersey courts on 9 February from the Australian authorities.
She said the court was obliged to fix a day for the hearing within two months of that date. But Advocate Stephen Baker, representing Mr de Figueiredo, argued that the case involved ‘novel and complicated legislation’ and said that the Jersey accountant would need to instruct an Australian lawyer.
He asked for more time but Mrs O’Donnell said that the court was bound by article 13 of the Extradition Law to set a date. However, she said that the defendant could make a further application in due course. A pre-extradition hearing was arranged for 10 March and an extradition hearing was set for 26 and 27 March. Mr de Figueiredo was released on conditional bail.
• Picture: Philip de Figueiredo on his way into court
