International fugitive John Malcolm West granted home detention bail, with electronic monitoring, after 30 years on the run

After three decades on the run, this international fugitive has been granted bail once again. See the first pictures of him in Adelaide since being captured.

International fugitive John Malcolm West leaves court with his wife, former Olympian Verna Burnard. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

An international fugitive who evaded capture for 34 years has been granted bail and will be subject to GPS tracking – despite a judge’s misgivings.

On Friday, the District Court released former lawyer and political powerbroker John Malcolm West on $10,000 bail, with his daughter – a doctor – providing a $10,000 guarantee.

Prosecutors asked Mr West, who has Alzheimer’s, also be required to wear an electronic monitoring device at all times, which prompted comment from Judge Paul Muscat.

He “questioned the validity” of monitoring a sick man, said he “was not minded” to make such an order given two experts agreed Mr West was mentally unfit to stand trial.

When prosecutors highlighted Mr West’s long years on the run, Judge Muscat replied: “He didn’t have Alzheimer’s then.”

John Malcolm West in 1985.

Mr West following his release on bail. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

In the end, Judge Muscat was persuaded to include the condition – only for Mr West’s medical condition to present a new issue for the court.

When time came for Mr West sign his bail papers, his daughter informed the court he was incapable of doing so.

“I’ve never encountered this before,” his lawyer, Stephen Ey, said.

Judge Muscat replied: “Neither have I.”

Mr West, 74, is a former Adelaide lawyer and was state Liberal Party president in 1984.

In July 1988, he fled Australia prior to standing trial on 27 counts of fraudulent conversion over the alleged misappropriation of $87,000 from clients and partners at his law firm.

His wife, former Olympic sprinter and PE teacher Verna Burnard, had left the country on a commercial flight around the same time.

Prosecutors had alleged that Mr West’s offending, between August 1981 and December 1984, included siphoning money intended for a trust fund.

The Advertiser’s report, from July 1988, on the search for Mr West.

The court has previously heard he skipped the country and was travelling on an Irish passport to countries including Botswana, Zimbabwe and France and worked as a flight trainer.

He evaded an international manhunt until he returned to Australia in late March and his daughter made a request for Medicare on his behalf.

This week, prosecutors said they would concede Mr West was unfit to stand trial due to his declining health.

On Friday, and after some discussion, the court agreed it proper that Mr West’s daughter – who has power of attorney over his affairs – sign the bail papers on his behalf.

She and Ms Burnard, who isn’t charged with any wrongdoing, led Mr West out of court, with Mr Ey saying there would be no comment and asking the media to “respect our position”.

Mr West will next face court in January, when the issue of his mental fitness will be the subject of evidence.