Paedophile ex-MP Milton Orkopoulos arrested at Sydney home
Police have laid fresh charges against convicted paedophile and disgraced former state government minister Milton Orkopoulos following his arrest at his Sydney home earlier today.
NSW
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Convicted paedophile and former NSW Labor politician Milton Orkopoulos was “confused and nervous” following his arrest this morning, his lawyer says.
The 62-year-old, who is on parole after an 11-year stint behind bars for child sex offences, was arrested at 7am at Malabar and taken to Maroubra Police Station.
He has since been charged with two counts of fail to comply with reporting obligations and was granted strict conditional bail. He is due to appear at Waverley Local Court later today.
Lawyer Omar Juweinat on Wednesday told AAP he had spoken to Orkopoulos, who was “confused” about the fresh charges with which he was hit.
“It sounds like it relates to, and I am yet to formally find out, his use of electronic devices and possibly the use of an application called WhatsApp,” he said.
“As one could expect, (Orkopoulos) is really confused and nervous about the dilemma he is currently facing.”
The arrest of Orkopoulos followed an inspection of his home by specialist officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command last Thursday.
During the visit, police allege they identified the 62-year-old had failed to report changed personal information as per his obligations for a court order.
Corrective Services NSW said yesterday it was seeking to have Orkopoulos’ bail revoked but the State Parole Authority said in a statement today a decision wouldn’t be made until after he appears in court.
“The State Parole Authority (SPA) has decided to stand over a parole revocation hearing for Milton Orkopoulos to a date to be fixed pending his court appearance,” the statement said.
“The SPA held a private meeting this morning after a breach report was received from Community Corrections.”
Orkopoulos was serving as the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in 2006 when he was arrested and dismissed by then NSW premier Morris Iemma.
Police made explosive allegations that the politician had been preying on young boys since 1995, plying them with cannabis and alcohol or injecting them with heroin before sexually abusing them.
Orkopoulos was jailed for almost 14 years for 30 child sex and drug charges including homosexual assaults on a minor, child pornography possession, having sex without consent and supplying prohibited drugs.
He was granted parole in December despite failing a 2019 prison drug test.
The SPA granted his conditional release, saying the “worst” outcome for the community was keeping him locked up until his maximum sentence expired in October 2021 when he would be under no supervision.
However, the SPA acknowledged the offences were “very serious” and “occurred in a context where the offender maintained a false facade of being a law abiding and senior member of the community”.