Greek authorities have arrested James Dalamangas, one of Australia’s most wanted fugitives, a Greek-Australian man accused of the fatal stabbing of another Greek-Australian fellowman in Sydney in 1999.
Back then, the now 55-year-old Dalamangas fled to Greece and was located and arrested at a rural property near the town of Aigio, northern Peloponnese, on Sunday, following a major police operation. and 4 days of close surveillance.
Australian police allege Dalamangas fled Sydney shortly after the killing of George Giannopoulos, who was fatally stabbed outside a Belmore nightclub in 1999 during an altercation. An arrest warrant was issued within 24 hours of Giannopoulos’ death.
Authorities said 32-year-old Giannopoulos, a father of two, was trying to break up a violent fight when he was attacked. Police allege Dalamangas carried out the attack before fleeing the country.
Footage of the arrest showed heavily armed officers surrounding the farmhouse before escorting Dalamangas away in handcuffs.
According to Greek and Australian media reports, Dalamangas had allegedly been living under a false identity in Aigio for decades, using the name “Antonis Tzimas.” Neighbors described him as a quiet resident who tended olive groves, maintained his property and lived a low-profile rural life.
Australian authorities offered a reward of 200,000 Australian dollars (122,000 euros) for information leading to his capture and renewed public appeals in 2024 as Greece’s 25-year statute of limitations approached.
A previous extradition attempt in 2003 failed. Greek authorities later assumed responsibility for the investigation, which reportedly stalled in 2007 after leads dried up.
When approached by officers, Dalamangas initially gave a false identity but later admitted who he was during questioning at a local police station, according to officials.
Dalamangas or Tzimas had declared to be married to a 47-year-old woman and the area he chose to live in was his partner’s place of origin. His mother and father, lived also with him.
His wife and his father have also been arrested for harboring a criminal, media reported.
Police also searched the property after the arrest and reportedly seized a crossbow and several sharp objects.
Dalamangas is being held at police headquarters in Aigio and is expected to appear before an appeals prosecutor in Patras, where extradition proceedings to Australia are expected to begin.
He declares himself “Innocent” and his lawyers say that the charges have been written off due to statute of limitation valid in Greece..
