Crime Correspondent: Athens

Mokbel has managed to stall extradition proceedings by challenging a single signature on his arrest warrant

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDemXpUJ7QYvKoyT23b8FKscsIA1uP5zzFu-cXAwuO6_byQjY7tViOPIjlDrTHB6_TRiNhjApRM-ijvWHSncCEqcdn12YfinwfXTcIvV3AZ5m72MjKGk6mmFdUwCIxuvdocrwUxzPkn6E/s1600-h/tony.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183087944546977762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDemXpUJ7QYvKoyT23b8FKscsIA1uP5zzFu-cXAwuO6_byQjY7tViOPIjlDrTHB6_TRiNhjApRM-ijvWHSncCEqcdn12YfinwfXTcIvV3AZ5m72MjKGk6mmFdUwCIxuvdocrwUxzPkn6E/s400/tony.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Court workers in Athens yesterday called a snap 24-hour strike as part of industrial action to protest government moves to change their pension plan, further complicating the drawn-out extradition process.The move came as one of the city's top criminal lawyers threatened legal action over claims about her in some Australian media outlets.Channel 7 reporter Norm Beaman sparked the trouble after suggesting Greece's Supreme Court had lax security and a "woman" had been allowed to sit next to Mokbel and could have concealed a gun in her "heavy shawl". That woman is top Athens criminal lawyer Aida Tzavela, assisting Mokbel's legal team, who last night was furious and threatening to take legal action against The Age newspaper which published Beaman's suggestion. "How dare he say that, this is ridiculous thing to suggest - I think he has confused Aida with Al-Qaida," she said.Mokbel has managed to stall extradition proceedings by challenging a single signature on his arrest warrant, declaring Lebanese nationality and a birth right to be tried in Beirut and arguing his life would be in danger from corrupt police and underworld figures if he was made to return to Victoria.But now it may be the courts themselves which spare him a one way ticket home.Garbage collectors have joined court workers on strike, refusing to collect mountains of rubbish accumulating on Athens' streets, as have public transport workers. Mokbel's lawyers met early this morning AEST to discuss the implications of the strike. But if court does go ahead, Mokbel's legal team is also considering introducing new evidence such as the fact his original arrest warrant did not carry any mention of claims he murdered gangster Lewis Moran; part of the basis he is now being extradited on.Mokbel spoke this morning with Yiannis Vlachos about his case expected before the courts, if it does decide to sit, about 10pm (AEST) today.His team of lawyers have also held discussions among themselves this morning (AEST) to discuss the possibility of one last challenge against the warrant. This morning speaking from his cell, Mokbel said "I'm not sure what's going on. We'll see."

Mokbel has managed to stall extradition proceedings by challenging a single signature on his arrest warrant

Court workers in Athens yesterday called a snap 24-hour strike as part of industrial action to protest government moves to change their pens...

RHS3030 associate of Tony Mokbel $400,000 was sent to Mokbel

"I transferred funds overseas to Mokbel - I think I was money laundering," RHS 3030 said.An associate of Tony Mokbel said he realised it was a "silly idea" to send large sums of money to the fugitive drugs baron while he was hiding in Greece."In hindsight, it was a silly idea at the time, but I was doing it as a favour for a mate."Investigators believe as much as $400,000 was sent to Mokbel as he evaded arrest.The man, who can only be identified as RHS3030, was giving evidence in the trial of nine men accused of manufacturing 42kg of amphetamines.They are alleged to be key members in an amphetamine manufacturing network known as "The Company" which was controlled by Mokbel until his arrest in Greece in June last year. The hearing, before magistrate Maurice Gurvich, also heard that RHS3030 had given his passport to Mokbel "for analysis" but never received it back.Mokbel skipped bail with a false passport in the middle of his trial on cocaine importation charges last year and was convicted and sentenced in absentia to a minimum of nine years' jail.He is now fighting extradition to Australia from jail in Athens RHS3030 also recalled how he had made a room available in his house for the manufacture of amphetamines, although he had played no part in the process. "I saw 10 bags weighing around two kilograms each," he said. RHS3030, who was a long-term user of cocaine, said he believed he was immune to prosecution in return for giving evidence in the case. "I believe I have indemnity but there was no promise going forward," he said. The accused face six charges each including trafficking commercial quantities of methamphetamines worth $4.2 million and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

RHS3030 associate of Tony Mokbel $400,000 was sent to Mokbel

"I transferred funds overseas to Mokbel - I think I was money laundering," RHS 3030 said.An associate of Tony Mokbel said he reali...