This rare type of order would typically be referred to federal government agencies who would then oversee the extradition negotiations with Greece to compel Mr Papas to return to Australia,which could take months.
Justice Lee said on Wednesday the arrest warrant was necessary because Mr Papas had displayed no genuine effort to return to Australia after flying to Greece in June and had provided “less than satisfactory information to his solicitors” about his whereabouts.
The court heard Mr Papas had allegedly breached freezing orders by sending two payments totalling $720,000 in July to his cousin Eric Constantinidis through an online trading account called MacroVue,first revealed inThe AgeandSydney Morning Herald.
“There is no basis,let alone a reasonable basis,for thinking Mr Papas is likely to return to Australia from Greece on any firm date,” he said. “Accordingly,I’m satisfied that I should issue a warrant for Mr Papas’ arrest and detention in custody before he is brought before the court.”
Loading
Mr Papas fled Australia in June,around the time his clients began asking questions about the alleged fraud after discovering forged signatures had been used to obtain millions of dollars in fraudulent loans through asset leasing companies associated with Forum Group.
Mr Papas told the court in July he had booked a return flight to Sydney,but ultimately never boarded after claiming he hadcontracted COVID-19. Hethen claimed he did not have enough money to buy return airfares and requested some freezing orders be lifted.