Fugitive Jim Soukoulis’ mum asks him to return so she doesn’t lose her house
The elderly mother of a fugitive who vanished while on bail over a drug smuggling plot has begged her son to hand himself in – because her Adelaide home would be seized if he doesn’t.
SA News
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The mother of a fugitive Melbourne drug importation plotter was duped into signing over her house so he could make bail.
Georgia Soukoulis did not know her home would be seized within months because of her son Jim’s disappearing act, until the Herald Sun told her.
The 87-year-old has urged her son to hand himself in.
Mrs Soukoulis is unwell and can barely walk due to disability.
“Go get him, not me. Put him in jail,” she said.
“I don’t have money to go to lawyer. I only have my home.”
Jim Soukoulis, 54, vanished from South Melbourne last November while on bail over an elaborate plot to fly 255kg of methamphetamine to Australia from California in a light plane.
His mother’s central Adelaide home was listed as surety on his bail application and will be confiscated if he doesn’t turn up soon.
Ms Soukoulis had no idea about this arrangement when approached by the Herald Sun recently.
She broke down in tears and begged her son to return home immediately.
“I have worked my whole life for this home,” she said.
“I am an old lady. I never touched anyone. I don’t know why they (sic) take my home. This home was for my last life. I have nothing else.”
Ms Soukoulis has severe hip and knee problems and speaks limited English.
She bought the three bedroom home on a single income more than 60 years ago after immigrating from Greece.
Her husband, now deceased, did not work due to injuries sustained in a car crash, she said.
Property ownership documents show she is a half-owner with her other son, Terry.
The property, built in 1890, is valued at $600,000, two-thirds of the surety required for Jim’s release from custody.
The living room is filled with photos of her family, including Jim, his two kids and ex-wife.
For months she has been unable to sleep thinking her son could be dead.
“I wish nobody killed him. I’m scared,” she said.
“I miss him. I don’t know if he is alive.”
When told her son’s disappearance could cost her home, Mrs Soukoulis urged police to find and lock up her son.
“I sit here and ask them to come shoot me first, then take my home,” she said.
Police may be only part of Mr Soukoulis’ problems.
It is likely investors in the conspiracy would have been enraged at its failure.
Quarter of a tonne of methylamphetamine and the plane were seized when authorities made their move in California.
Also of major concern to them would have been the seizure of $2.4 million from a heavy-haulage truck at Mildura in a swoop related to the US bust.
As it happens, the drug plot was probably doomed to failure even before the arrests.
Experts in the United States have told the Herald Sun the small plane’s big payload and extra fuel supply would have almost certainly caused it to crash, if it even made it off the ground.
The application to seize Ms Soukoulis’ home will be heard at the County Court of Victoria on July 15.
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