Australian mobster's extradition hearing postponed

ATHENS, July 17 (Reuters) The extradition hearing of Australia's most wanted fugitive, Tony Mokbel, was postponed by a Greek court for a week today at the request of his defence.

Known as ''Fat Tony'', Mokbel, 42, was sought by international police until his arrest in Greece on June 5.

He was sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison in Australia for trafficking cocaine and police are seeking his extradition to complete his sentence.

He is also wanted on suspicion of ordering and paying for the murder of rival crime boss Lewis Moran, although he denies any involvement.

''The court has postponed the hearing until next week in order to let us prepare our defence,'' Mokbel's lawyer Yannis Vlachos told reporters.

Vlachos said if the court decides in favour of his extradition, Mokbel will appeal to Greece's top court.

The Australian mobster, who used the name Stephen Papas while staying in Greece, also awaits trial by a Greek court on charges of using a forged Australian passport and driver's licence. He is also being investigated for money laundering.

Mokbel's trial for illegal activity in Greece is also set for July 24, which means one of the cases will probably again be postponed.

Mokbel has been held in an Athens jail since his arrest in an Athens suburb after a tip off from Australian authorities, after a year on the run. He had been living in Greece for nine months with his girlfriend, daughter and their three-month-old baby.

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