A financial adviser who had been on the run from Greek authorities for 12 years but was arrested when he returned to the country and was involved in a car crash has been jailed for 46 years, in a decision made public yesterday.

Dimitris Rizopoulos was found guilty of embezzling almost 1.5 million euros’ worth of funds from his customers between 1992 and 1994. The consultant had been given the money to invest on the stock market on behalf of his clients.

Rizopoulos allegedly fled to England and Canada but regularly returned to Greece. It was during one of these visits that he was involved in a crash.

The fraudster admitted to his offenses and said that his victims would have “every right to skin me alive.” He pledged to put things right when he gets out of jail.