São Tomé releases Chilean wanted by Interpol
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Rádio Somos Todos Primos
São Tomé and Príncipe’s judiciary released Ignacio Purcell Mena, a Chilean national detained at Interpol’s request, because the deadline for his pre-trial detention linked to extradition had expired. He remains subject to a residence requirement and a ban on leaving the country, according to Rádio Somos Todos Primos.
The São Tomé and Príncipe judiciary released Chilean national Ignacio Purcell Mena on Friday 30 October. He had been detained at Interpol’s request as part of an extradition procedure. His pre-trial detention was replaced by an obligation to reside at a specified address and a ban on leaving the country, because the statutory deadline had passed without the Constitutional Court ruling on his defence’s appeal, a source linked to the case confirmed to Rádio Somos Todos Primos.
Lawyer Hamilton Vaz said his client would await the continuation of the proceedings in freedom, invoking the principle that freedom is the rule and detention the exception. The appeal against the extradition, decided by the Supreme Court of Justice, was filed with the Constitutional Court three months ago.
Ignacio Purcell Mena is suspected, according to sources from Spain’s National Court cited by the Efe news agency, of having taken part in a criminal organisation comprising 38 companies. The organisation allegedly caused more than €300 million in damage to the Spanish state in 2024 by failing to declare VAT on fuel sales. São Tomé and Príncipe’s public prosecutor’s office asked the Constitutional Court on 15 October to speed up its examination of the appeal, with the statutory deadline expiring on 31 October.
