A judge has expressed concerns Bill Papas’ extradition from Greece may fall in the “too hard basket,” The Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
This comes after several law enforcement agencies told Westpac they could also bring criminal charges against the alleged fraudster.
If Mr Papas were extradited to Australia to face the contempt of court charge, extradition law prevents Australian law enforcement agencies from prosecuting him for separate crimes.
READ MORE: Alleged fraudster, Bill Papas, makes girlfriend a director of Xanthi FC.
Also on Thursday, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee criticised Mr Papas’ claim he had been denied a fair hearing in a statement to The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes on Sunday.
“I have been deprived of the opportunity to fund any meaningful engagement with federal proceedings commenced by a well-resourced financial institution,” Mr Papas said through defamation lawyer, Rebekah Giles.
READ MORE: Bill Papas the focus of investigation by Australian current affairs show.
Justice Michael Lee said he noted this statement “with some degree of bemusement” as “Mr Papas did not seek to challenge the evidence.”
Mr Papas stands accused of forging signatures to fraudulently obtain almost $500 million in loans from Westpac and other banks.
The trial is set down for three weeks beginning on October 10.
Source: The Australian.
