A woman wanted by Greece who was arrested in Brighton on Thursday on an Interpol warrant denied during an extradition hearing later in the day that she was Antonia Ilia, a fugitive former judge, claiming she was a French citizen and teacher of French at a local college, but British police found the Greek fugitive's ID card and identified her fingerprints with those of Ilia.
Ilia is wanted on five European warrants after the cashiered ex-judge fled Greece several years ago in the wake of a judicial corruption scandal, when she was accused of participating in a trial-fixing network. Greek police reportedly provided a tip-off, leading to the fugitive's arrest. Ilia stands accused of participating in a trial-fixing network masterminded by a high-ranking priest. She was first suspended from her judicial seat for not filing statements of means and income between 2001 and 2003.
The woman's claim caused a furor during a local court hearing on the Greek extradition request. When asked to confirm her identity in court, the woman said her name was Antonia Jemen, born in the French town of Amiens in March 1963, and that her parents were Constantin and Claire Jemen.
The prosecution, however, presented evidence in court found in the woman's Brighton apartment that included a Greek ID card, Greek passport and Greek driver's licence in the name of Antonia Ilia.
The prosecution further submitted documentation from the British police that the fingerprints of Ilia contained in the Interpol arrest warrant were the same as those of the woman arrested.
The woman claimed in court that the documents found in her apartment had possibly been left behind by college students given that, according to her claims, she rented out her living room and one of the bedrooms to students.
The court decided to remand her until Monday to enable the collection of additional evidence on her identity.
ANA-MPA
