An Athens court yesterday handed down a one-year jail sentence to Australian fugitive Tony Mokbel, who faces extradition to his homeland to answer to murder charges and serve a nine-year sentence for drug trafficking.

The court convicted the 42-year-old, known as «Fat Tony,» for holding a false passport and driver's license. Mokbel was arrested in Glyfada, southern Athens, in June by Greek narcotics officers working with Australian police.

Lawyers for Mokbel, who was not in court yesterday, claim that he would not get a fair trial in Australia because officials there have publicly referred to him as guilty of crimes for which he has not been convicted.

Greek authorities in July approved Australia's request for Mokbel to be extradited. Mokbel, currently in Korydallos jail, appealed the decision which is to be reviewed in October.