The Australian police have commenced a global hunt to capture one of their most wanted criminals, James Dalamangas, who is believed to have fled Australia for Greece 20 years ago.
The appeal was launched today by NSW Police as the 25-year Greek statute of limitations draws to a close, meaning it will be difficult to initiate criminal legal proceedings against Dalamangas.
“Time is now of the essence we believe,” Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor said at a press conference today. “We believe someone in Greece would know where Dalamangas is living or working.”
Mr Dalamangas was suspected to have disappeared to Greece in 1999 after he stabbed to death a Sydney father-of-two, George Giannopoulos.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Giannopoulos was at a Belmore nightclub in Sydney’s south west on April 25, 1999 when he was stabbed twice and died while trying to intervene between two fighting patrons.
The next day, a warrant was issued for Mr Dalamangas’ arrest, but he was never found.
Dalamangas, who was a bouncer, was also wanted for questioning after another Kings Cross bouncer, Tim Voukelatos was shot and died in 1997. He was also involved in a brawl taking place outside Star City Casino, where his brother was killed in 1998.
Australian police believe he escaped to Greece in 1999 and remains living there.
After many unsuccessful attempts to capture Dalamangas in 2003, authorities in Greece had agreed to commence his prosecution, however four years later, this was suspended when he couldn’t be found.
In 2019, police also offered a $200,000 reward for people to turn in Dalamangas’ whereabouts, but that was also unsuccessful.
Now, 25 years on and as the Greek statute of limitations nears, police are re-appealing for information on his case, urging anyone with information to come forward. They are particularly interested in any information that can assist in locating Dalamangas in Greece.
Superintendent Taylor said after the 25-year time lapse it was not “impossible” to prosecute Mr Dalamangas, but that it would not be possible to do so in Greece.
Source: The Daily Telegraph.
