BANGKOK: An Australian has been arrested in Cambodia seven years after he jumped bail in Queensland on kidnapping and torture charges.
Australian authorities have known for months that Guido James Eglitis, 68, was living in Cambodia but made no attempt to have him extradited to Brisbane to face charges relating to an attack on a businessman in 2007.
Cambodia media is reporting that Eglitis, originally from Warnambool, has been arrested in the Cambodian town of Siem Reap, near the historic Angkor Wat temple complex, following a complaint of violence by a British man.
Cambodian police released a photograph of him under arrest.
Eglitis allegedly has a 30 year history of crime and featured in a 1998 Australian-published book entitled 'Scams and Swindlers'.
In 2007 a Brisbane court committed Eglitis to stand trial in a higher court on charges of kidnapping, deprivation of liberty, robbery, impersonating a police officer and possessing restricted items.
Police allege Eglitis posed as a federal police officer when he grabbed a businessman, tied him up in a house and demanded money.
The businessman allegedly managed to untie his hands and escape.
In Cambodia, Eglitis came to the attention of Australian authorities last year when he claimed to be a private investigator working with Cambodian police on the mysterious death of Canadian journalist Dave Walker, whose decomposed body was found near Angkor Wat.
Australian Federal police helped investigate the case for Canadian authorities.
In 1988, Eglitis was sentenced to four years jail in the United States on fraud charges.
Eglitis would be deported to Australia if he is found guilty of violence in Cambodia.
Australian authorities have known for months that Guido James Eglitis, 68, was living in Cambodia but made no attempt to have him extradited to Brisbane to face charges relating to an attack on a businessman in 2007.
Cambodia media is reporting that Eglitis, originally from Warnambool, has been arrested in the Cambodian town of Siem Reap, near the historic Angkor Wat temple complex, following a complaint of violence by a British man.
Cambodian police released a photograph of him under arrest.
Eglitis allegedly has a 30 year history of crime and featured in a 1998 Australian-published book entitled 'Scams and Swindlers'.
In 2007 a Brisbane court committed Eglitis to stand trial in a higher court on charges of kidnapping, deprivation of liberty, robbery, impersonating a police officer and possessing restricted items.
Police allege Eglitis posed as a federal police officer when he grabbed a businessman, tied him up in a house and demanded money.
The businessman allegedly managed to untie his hands and escape.
In Cambodia, Eglitis came to the attention of Australian authorities last year when he claimed to be a private investigator working with Cambodian police on the mysterious death of Canadian journalist Dave Walker, whose decomposed body was found near Angkor Wat.
Australian Federal police helped investigate the case for Canadian authorities.
In 1988, Eglitis was sentenced to four years jail in the United States on fraud charges.
Eglitis would be deported to Australia if he is found guilty of violence in Cambodia.
These types are everywhere in tourist areas in Thailand as well. The long battles Andrew Drummond has faced could of been avoided if western authorities did their job and made sure these people were never allowed to roam free. It seems they take the attitude "out of sight out of mind" or "it's not our problem now" when it comes to crims on the run.
Posted by Arun Muruga on October 24, 2015 10:59