Spiros Katos, 50, is charged with intent to pervert the course of justice, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and accessory after the fact to cocaine importation.He is also charged unlawfully assisting Mokbel to flee the jurisdiction while on bail.Katos was remanded in custody and ordered to face court on September 20 for a committal mention. He did not apply for bail.He was charged last night following an interview with Purana taskforce detectives at the St Kilda Road police complex, after which he faced an out-of-sessions hearing at St Kilda Road.Mokbel absconded while on trial on drug charges in Melbourne in March 2006 and was arrested in a cafe in Athens on June 5, 2007.The alleged plot to smuggle Mokbel out of Australia involved a luxury yacht, illicit money transfers and the use of a rural hideaway, according to police.He was recaptured in suburban Athens in June last year and extradited to Melbourne on May 17 following a lengthy legal battle.Five people were charged earlier with allegedly assisting the escape.
Yvonne Warfe, 34, of Burnside, has been charged with perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and impeding the prosecution of a person.She was bailed to reappear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 25 for a committal mention hearing.Bassillios Byron Pantazis, 63, and Angela Nissirios, 46, appeared in the same court on charges including perverting the course of justice by assisting Mokbel to flee, and dealing in property known to be the proceeds of crime.Both were remanded in custody to reappear in September.
Two brothers, aged 39 and 43, were charged with perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to pervert and being accessories after the fact.They are already in custody on an unrelated matter and will appear before a court at a later date.
Police said in an affidavit presented to the Victorian Supreme Court that Mokbel and his alleged accomplices spent as much as $1 million on an elaborate escape plan, including the purchase of a $350,000, 17-metre yacht and its refit for a sea voyage to Greece.Mokbel's partner, Danielle McGuire, flew into Melbourne from Greece early today.
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