The Public Prosecutor's Office in Faro is pursuing a case against a local lawyer who is suspected of ripping off two South Africans.
According to today’s statement from the Public Ministry, there are suspicions that in 2015 and 2016 the lawyer tricked his two South African clients, telling them that he has reached agreements with the taxman and Social Security office over monies owned.
Duped into believing the good news about lower tax and social security bills, the victims transferred the money to the lawyer - over €400,000 - which the lawyer kept.
The accused is suspected of shifting the money around various accounts to try and hide where it had come from.
Correio da Manhã named the victims as photographer and 'adult film' maker, Viv Thomas, aged-69, and his wife Avril.
The lawyer, thought to be based in Tavira, faces criminal charges and, if found guilty, is likely then to be struck off by Portugal’s Ordem de Advogados - even this body can not fail to bar one of its members for stealing such a large sum.
