Alleged rapist seeks bail to relocate mother from Greece to Australia
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
A Melbourne man accused of raping and sexually assaulting three women is seeking bail so he can move his elderly dementia-suffering mother to Australia from Greece to open a bridal store.
According to the Herald Sun, Nektario Zafiratos fronted the County Court via a video link from jail on Wednesday, where he has been locked up pending his court case for over 400 days.
Zafiratos’ defence lawyer told the court his client wanted bail because his 74-year-old mum in Greece was sick and he was “struggling with his mental health as a consequence of his incarceration”.
Anticipating a potential bail, the 51-year-old has arranged short-term accommodation through a friend he met in prison said the lawyer.
The court heard their plan was for the friend to fly to Greece and help pack up Zafiratos’ mother and her bridal shop.
She has never met the person and has advanced dementia.
She would be looked after by her son and open a new bridal shop here.
Judge David Sexton questioned how an old woman with a cognitive impairment could fly “anywhere, let alone from Athens to Melbourne”.
“I have received mixed messages in regards to the situation with your mother – she is elderly, frail, has advanced dementia and desires to be in Australia (but) I’m not precisely sure how the arrangement will be in place when your friend goes to Athens to relocate her,” he said.
The prosecution also raised that they believe the accused was a flight risk.
Judge Sexton, denying bail, said the allegations were “very serious”.
The alleged sugar daddy is accused of contacting women online, via the Seeking Arrangements website, and raping and sexually assaulting multiple times, including one woman who he offered $10,000 to.
The accused will return to court for a directions hearing later this month.
The original article: NEOS KOSMOS .
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