James Zombolas goes on the run after allegedly duping victim out of $35,000 diamond ring

An alleged identity thief accused of using a $35,000 diamond ring as part of an elaborate con has cut off his home detention monitor and gone on the run – only weeks after being granted bail.

An accused scammer who was granted bail with a $50,000 cash surety has cut off his home detention monitoring bracelet and gone on the run.

James Zombolas, 39, of South Melbourne was granted bail on review in the Supreme Court late last month after his arrest for allegedly travelling to Sydney to obtain a fraudulent bank cheque which he then used to dupe a victim out of $35,000 of diamond jewellery.

Prosecutors had opposed his release on bail, citing concerns about his ability to assume other identities and a concern he would abscond.

However, he was granted bail on May 29 with strict conditions including that his partner post a $50,000 cash surety with the court.

He was due to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court this week, but the court heard he was a no-show.

His lawyer, Eleanor Whish-Wilson, asked to cease acting for Mr Zombolas as she had not been able to contact him.

A prosecutor told the court Mr Zombolas had “cut off his home detention bracelet” and asked a warrant be issued for his arrest, with bail excluded.

At the earlier Supreme Court bail hearing, Anthony Schapel, prosecuting, told the court Mr Zombolas allegedly travelled from Victoria to Sydney and “falsely represented that he was the person who held the account at the bank” to obtain a bank cheque.

In doing so, he said Mr Zombolas “must have produced some sort of false document in order to establish that he was the account holder”, while the real account holder was unaware.

He said Zombolas later travelled to Adelaide and used the cheque to buy $35,000 worth of diamond jewellery, but it was dishonoured.

“The complainant in SA is out of pocket to the tune of his diamond jewellery, for which he received a cheque that was ultimately dishonoured,” Mr Schapel said.

He said police arrested Mr Zombolas after finding him at the casino, where he had booked a room using a false identity – a proof of age card purportedly issued in Victoria.

The court had heard that his room contained “numerous false documents” in the names of other people, but containing Mr Zombolas’ photo, and a machine capable of creating false identity documents.

Mr Schapel Mr Zombolas had multiple prior convictions for deception-related offences, including 94 counts of obtaining property by deception in Victoria.

He said Mr Zombolas “had a propensity to use other people’s identities for the purpose of gain” and that releasing him on bail – even electronically monitored home detention – would be an “ineffectual” in preventing him abscond of commit further offending.

Justice Julie McIntyre had granted Zombolas home detention bail with strict conditions including internet usage restrictions and that he only possess his own identity documents.