Greece’s most notorious villain Vassilis Paleokostas (photo) who twice performed Hollywood-style helicopter getaways from prison could be hiding out in Cyprus according to intelligence received by the Cyprus Police department.
Forty-four-year-old Vassilis Paleokostas is the younger brother of the equally infamous Nikos Paleokostas who is currently in prison in Greece.
By the time Vassilis was 24, the Papkostas brothers were wanted for 27 robberies, but their real notoriety stems from their ability to escape from prison, feats which have earned them both the nickname of “phantom”.
The fact that he has reportedly shared some of his loot with the underprivileged in central Greece has also helped engineer a Robin Hood-style persona for the infamous criminal. In the latest twist to the saga Cyprus police have recently received a message from Interpol in Athens that Vassilis was spotted near the occupied areas of the island.
Police spokesman Michael Katsounotos admitted yesterday the information was of low reliability. “But I have requested the police forces of Cyprus to be extra observant and vigilant, if they find the escapee in the free areas of Cyprus they will arrest him and turn him over to Greek Police forces.”
In 1988 Vassilis performed his first prison break when he helped his brother escape from Trikala prison by throwing a rope over the wall of the jail.
Vassilis Paleokostas’ crime spree includes two high profile kidnappings where close to two million euros was received in ransom. The brothers’ most high-profile bank robbery was committed on a branch of the National Bank in Kalambaka where the brothers stole the equivalent of €400,000. The execution of the robbery would not have looked out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster movie. After taking the money, the two brothers blocked the cars of the local police between their two vehicles. When police began chasing them on foot they managed to escape by throwing 50,000 drachma bills (worth about 150 euros) all over the streets causing panic among citizens.
Vassilis was eventually arrested in 1999 but only spent seven years in jail. In 2006 a small private helicopter landed in the courtyard of the Athens’ Korydallos Prison. Guards believed the helicopter was a visit from prison inspectors and were shocked when they saw Vassilis board it and leave the prison.
His brother Nikos was believed to be the architect of that escape plan. Nikos however was arrested in September 2006 while Vassilis was also re-captured two years later on August 2, 2008.
Upon his arrest he famously said “I played and lost, you (the police) are victorious.” However on the afternoon of February 22, 2009 Vassilis again escaped from the same prison after a helicopter hovered over the prison and a rope ladder was thrown to him by a female passenger in the helicopter. Guards opened fire and the woman fired back with an automatic machine gun, Vassilis has not been seen since.
The government of Greece faced severe condemnation after his second escape from the same facility. Three justice ministry officials were fired at the time while three prison guards were also arrested.
(source: cyprus mail)
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