An Australian man held in custody for two years while fighting extradition to Greece on drug charges has been released after the Federal Government decided not to press the case.
Vasilios Konstantinou, 57, is wanted in Greece on allegations he was involved in a major cannabis production operation in 2005. He has been in custody since July 2011, when an Adelaide magistrate ruled he was eligible for extradition. His lawyers asked the Federal Government to intervene, arguing he had already been exonerated by a Greek appeal court. Defence lawyer Michael Jandy said Federal Justice Minister Jason Clare intervened and Mr Konstantinou was released from Port Augusta Prison.
“He was extremely happy and didn’t want to talk for too long. He was being taken out of jail and I don’t think he wanted to hang around longer than he needed to,” Mr Jandy said.
He added Mr Konstantinou was eager to be reunited with his large family.
Source: ABC