He faced court today via video-link and said he authorised his lawyer, David Mullen, to enter his guilty plea on his behalf.

Adelaide Magistrates Court previously heard Raneberg fled to Thailand but was arrested by Federal police in Sydney and extradicted to Adelaide last year, after he flew back to Australia to renew his visa.

Raneberg has now admitted to 70 theft charges relating to the misappropriation of $2.7 million while he worked at Minter Ellison. The number of charges has been reduced from the original 203.

Court documents filed at the time of arrest allege Raneberg defrauded the firm between August 1, 2003 and June 1, 2011, stealing amounts as large as $43,000 in a single transaction. It was alleged Raneberg then wiped the firm's banking records.

Police began an investigation of Raneberg in June when Minter Ellison discovered financial irregularities in its internal audit.

Raneberg is in custody and will face the District Court next month.