Man Accused of Wedding Service Fraud in Minas Gerais Faces Restored Arrest Warrant

A man accused of defrauding a couple by failing to provide contracted wedding services in Iapu, Minas Gerais, has had his preventive arrest warrant reinstated by the Minas Gerais Court of Justice (TJMG). The 1st Criminal Chamber of the TJMG granted an appeal from the Public Prosecutor's Office of Minas Gerais (MPMG), overturning a lower court's decision that had revoked the warrant. The alleged fraud involved the hiring of catering, decoration, event planning, sound, and lighting services for a wedding. The victim reportedly paid R$ 16.3 thousand in advance, only to be informed the day before the ceremony that the services would not be rendered. The MPMG stated that the accused could not be located for citation, leading to the suspension of the case and the initial issuance of the arrest warrant. It was later discovered that the accused resided in Portugal. International legal cooperation mechanisms, including an Interpol Red Notice and an extradition request, were activated, leading to his apprehension in Portugal. The initial revocation of the arrest warrant was appealed by the MPMG, which argued that the risk of flight and the need to ensure the application of criminal law remained valid reasons for detention. The TJMG's decision emphasized that the accused's continued residence abroad and the fact that his location was only discovered through international cooperation justified the reinstatement of the arrest warrant. The court also noted information about similar alleged offenses involving the accused. The MPMG now plans to pursue the extradition process to bring the accused to Brazil to face charges in Inhapim.