Kosta Diamantis, former senior budget official in Connecticut, escaped to Greece using a combination of sea and air travel. This action took place before his sentencing regarding financial corruption. Information about this escape was presented by prosecutors and defense attorneys at a hearing held on Thursday.
Details of the Escape and Charges
Diamantis, 70, claimed in a 10-page email to his attorney that Governor Ned Lamont had politically attacked him through the legal system. He emphasized his innocence in this regard and wrote that his trial had destroyed his social standing, family relationships, and life.
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The federal court session in Bridgeport was set to address charges that could carry over a decade of imprisonment. Diamantis, who has been a Democratic state representative, was convicted last year by a federal jury of extortion. Prosecutors proved that he received thousands of dollars in bribes from private contractors between 2018 and 2021 to secure and maintain school construction projects.
Consequences and Reactions
After his conviction, Diamantis told reporters that he feared spending time in prison. It is still unclear whether U.S. authorities will be able to bring Diamantis back, as he holds dual citizenship in the United States and Greece. Judicial rulings in Greece have historically prevented the extradition of its citizens.
Defense attorney Norman Pattis and law enforcement officials did not specify the exact time of Diamantis's departure. Prosecutors described his escape route, which included traveling by boat from Florida to the Bahamas and then flying to London. Despite returning his American passport, Diamantis managed to obtain Greek travel documents. Pattis stated that his client contacted him on Wednesday evening, saying he was in Greece and did not intend to appear in court.
U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill scheduled the sentencing hearing for September 30 and confirmed that the session would proceed without the defendant's presence. Connecticut officials swiftly condemned the escape and initiated actions to stop Diamantis's retirement benefits. The governor stated in a statement, "Kosta Diamantis has betrayed public trust and must be held accountable for his actions. His repeated attempts to escape justice are shameful. I hope he is apprehended soon and faces reality."
William Tong, the state attorney general, also stated in a statement, "His absence today is a shameful insult to anyone in Connecticut and will not stop our efforts to fully protect the state's interests and taxpayer dollars." State attorneys requested a prison sentence of 10 to 12 years, while Pattis proposed strict conditions for release without prison time.
After the hearing, the defense attorney expressed surprise at Diamantis's escape, saying, "I think Mr. Diamantis was facing a tough day and would likely have been sentenced to at least four or five years, maybe 10 to 12 years."
In his email to news organizations, Diamantis said, "The injustice imposed on me and my family due to political weaponization is beyond rational belief. I have lost everything I worked a lifetime to achieve and more. It is a tragedy that I have lost my home, my children's home, my car, my job, and even the ability to get a job."
He also expressed hope that President Donald Trump and federal prosecutors in Washington would review the conditions of his trial. He claimed that Lamont used "the power of his office and his strong friendship with President Biden to create an exclusive justice system" that helped conceal executive misconduct.
In addition to the school construction case, Diamantis faces separate federal criminal charges, including allegations of receiving bribes to prevent an audit of an eye doctor suspected of Medicaid fraud.
His initial conviction was based on his tenure in the office of grants and school construction reviews in the state. Evidence presented at trial showed that he used his official position to solicit bribes from contractors between 2018 and 2021 in exchange for awarding lucrative jobs. Prosecutors proved that he threatened to cancel contracts if contractors failed to comply.
Witnesses described how packages containing cash were delivered to Diamantis at various locations, including a restroom in a luxury restaurant, a donut shop, and his residence. Code words like "birthday cards," "cats," and "birds" were used in electronic communications to conceal payments. Diamantis acknowledged receiving the funds during his trial but claimed that these funds represented legal compensation for consulting work.
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Source: independent.co.uk
