Pretoria – The fugitive Gupta brothers – Atul and Rajesh – wanted for state capture-related crimes in South Africa could be roaming free anywhere in the world.
Reports that the fugitive pair was recently spotted in Switzerland remain unconfirmed.
However, on Friday South African authorities said they have learnt with “shock and dismay” that Atul and Rajesh have been released from prison in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because that country said their extradition request had failed.
The matter was heard in a Dubai court and concluded without the knowledge of South African authorities – not even the SA embassy in the UAE was aware that the matter had been finalised.
Speaking to reporters in a virtual briefing, SA Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said he only found out about the shocking development a day before.
“In the evening of the 6th of April 2023, we were provided with a note verbale from the United Arab Emirates,” Minister Lamola explained.
“In which we learnt with shock and dismay that the extradition hearing had been concluded in the Dubai Court on 13 February 2023 and our extradition request was unsuccessful.”
On the charge of money laundering, the crime in question is alleged to have been committed in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
The court in Dubai found that in terms of the Federal laws of the United Arab Emirates, extradition can be denied because that country has the jurisdiction to prosecute the crime.
On the charge of fraud, the court found that the arrest warrant relating to this charge was cancelled.
The fugitive Gupta brothers, who are wanted in South Africa for state capture-related fraud and money laundering crimes, were arrested in the United Arab Emirates last year.
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All this time SA authorities were under the impression Atul and Rajesh were still being held pending their extradition to face allegations of crimes committed in South Africa.
Minister Lamola said an appeal against the court ruling would be considered.
