On Monday an Australian national who has been accused of stealing a $1 million ring from a Melbourne jeweler in March 2009 will face court on extradition charges following his arrest in Pattaya last October.
Bangkok, the 25th of January (foto): George Georgiou from Northcote, Victoria in Australia, was arrested in the seaside resort of Pattaya, Thailand following a joint operation between Australian Federal Police and Thai authorities. Investigations revealed that Georgiou had fled to Thailand after stealing various items of jewelry from the Hardy Brothers Jewelers on Collins Street in Melbourne.
Australian Police wish to have Mr. Georgiou extradited back to Melbourne so that they can prosecute him on various theft and damage related charges, namely the theft of a $1 million dollar, 8 carat, handcrafted diamond ring, described as being “made by God.”
Mr. Georgiou has maintained that he is innocent and is not rejecting the Australian governments’ pleas for extradition, as he wishes to return to Melbourne in order to fight the charges leveled against him. Australian Federal Police have already briefly questioned Mr. Georgiou about the incident. His response: “I am just a suspect. They are taking me back. I’ve done nothing.”
Mr. Georgiou has previously served 10 months in prison for a burglary in 2004, and has lived in Thailand since March of 2009, the month of the jewelry robbery in Melbourne. Following today’s hearing the magistrate is expected to hand down a verdict within the next two weeks.
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