London court to rule on extradition of former judge
A London court is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether to approve the extradition of a Greek former judge, Antonia Ilia, amid concerns that conditions at Greek prisons fall short of European standards.
Ilia, found guilty by a Greek court of being part of a trial-fixing ring, was sentenced to almost seven years in prison in absentia. She was arrested in Brighton, southern England, in 2011. The defendant did not appear in the London court on Friday because of an eye infection, her lawyer told judges.
Meanwhile, a prosecutor, acting on behalf of the Greek Ministry of Justice told the court that if extradited, Ilia would be held at the new women’s wing at Korydallos Prison, south of Athens, a facility that complies with international regulations. However, two Greek experts who testified via teleconference argued that jurisdiction for prisoners’ placement lies with the prison council and not the ministry.
