Tony Mokbel will be extradited to Australia from Greece to face trial on murder and drugs charges.The extradition was approved today by Greece's Justice Minister, Sotiris Hadjigakis, who ratified an earlier decision by the country's Supreme Court, The Associated Press reports.However, Victoria's Police Minister Bob Cameron said there had been no official word from Greece on Mokbel's status.
"We welcome the news coming out of Greece, however, Victorian Police is yet to receive any official confirmation,'' he said tonight. Mokbel faces at least 20 charges related to cocaine importation and the deaths of underworld heavyweights Lewis Moran and Michael Marshall. He sparked a global manhunt after skipping bail on March 20, 2006 while on trial for cocaine smuggling.Following his disappearence, he was convicted in absentia and sentenced to up to 12 years' jail.He was arrested on an Interpol warrant last June at a cafe near the rented beachside Athens home he shared with his partner, Danielle McGuire and their young daughter Renate. Mokbel fought the extradition, saying he would not get a fair trial in Australia.After the Supreme Court ruling, he said he would prefer to be extradited to anywhere but Australia, including Beirut. "You would probably get a fairer trial for me in bloody Indonesia," he said at the time.
"We welcome the news coming out of Greece, however, Victorian Police is yet to receive any official confirmation,'' he said tonight. Mokbel faces at least 20 charges related to cocaine importation and the deaths of underworld heavyweights Lewis Moran and Michael Marshall. He sparked a global manhunt after skipping bail on March 20, 2006 while on trial for cocaine smuggling.Following his disappearence, he was convicted in absentia and sentenced to up to 12 years' jail.He was arrested on an Interpol warrant last June at a cafe near the rented beachside Athens home he shared with his partner, Danielle McGuire and their young daughter Renate. Mokbel fought the extradition, saying he would not get a fair trial in Australia.After the Supreme Court ruling, he said he would prefer to be extradited to anywhere but Australia, including Beirut. "You would probably get a fairer trial for me in bloody Indonesia," he said at the time.
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