(ConservativeHub.com) – Typically, after a conviction, a criminal appears in court and faces their sentence. Still, one Yorkshire woman decided flight was the best decision. Nearly 10 years later, authorities have captured Sarah Panitzke, 47.
On Sunday, February 27, police arrested Panitzke in Spain while she was casually walking her dogs near her home in Catalonia. Authorities have placed her in a prison near Madrid and now are working on extraditing her to the UK. There, she’ll face her original sentence and additional penalties for running.
In 2013, the courts convicted Panitzke of laundering a whopping £1.3 billion on behalf of a fraud group. After she went on the run, Britain placed her on the National Crime Agency’s Most Wanted List, the only woman authorities ever placed on it.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Spanish Civil Guard worked together to apprehend Panitzke. They were close in 2015, but she detected police in her area and escaped once again after changing her appearance.
While she was on the run, courts convicted and sentenced Panitzke to 8 years in prison. If the UK successfully extradites her for the tax fraud charges, she’ll not only face that sentence but more time for going on the run. In the meantime, this is one suspect the National Crime Agency can cross off its list.
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