Mokbel has managed to stall extradition proceedings by challenging a single signature on his arrest warrant

Court workers in Athens yesterday called a snap 24-hour strike as part of industrial action to protest government moves to change their pension plan, further complicating the drawn-out extradition process.The move came as one of the city's top criminal lawyers threatened legal action over claims about her in some Australian media outlets.Channel 7 reporter Norm Beaman sparked the trouble after suggesting Greece's Supreme Court had lax security and a "woman" had been allowed to sit next to Mokbel and could have concealed a gun in her "heavy shawl".
That woman is top Athens criminal lawyer Aida Tzavela, assisting Mokbel's legal team, who last night was furious and threatening to take legal action against The Age newspaper which published Beaman's suggestion.
"How dare he say that, this is ridiculous thing to suggest - I think he has confused Aida with Al-Qaida," she said.Mokbel has managed to stall extradition proceedings by challenging a single signature on his arrest warrant, declaring Lebanese nationality and a birth right to be tried in Beirut and arguing his life would be in danger from corrupt police and underworld figures if he was made to return to Victoria.But now it may be the courts themselves which spare him a one way ticket home.Garbage collectors have joined court workers on strike, refusing to collect mountains of rubbish accumulating on Athens' streets, as have public transport workers.
Mokbel's lawyers met early this morning AEST to discuss the implications of the strike.

But if court does go ahead, Mokbel's legal team is also considering introducing new evidence such as the fact his original arrest warrant did not carry any mention of claims he murdered gangster Lewis Moran; part of the basis he is now being extradited on.Mokbel spoke this morning with Yiannis Vlachos about his case expected before the courts, if it does decide to sit, about 10pm (AEST) today.His team of lawyers have also held discussions among themselves this morning (AEST) to discuss the possibility of one last challenge against the warrant.
This morning speaking from his cell, Mokbel said "I'm not sure what's going on. We'll see."

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