Greece’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release of French-Israeli mining magnate Beny Steinmetz and blocked his extradition to Romania, overturning a lower court’s ruling, the state-run Athens News Agency reported.
Steinmetz, 69, had been detained after the Athens Court of Appeals approved his extradition to serve a five-year prison sentence in Romania. His legal team challenged the decision, leading to the Supreme Court’s ruling in his favor.
“The highest court has accepted his appeal, and Mr. Steinmetz is free as of today,” his lawyer, Stavros Togias, told the Financial Times.
Steinmetz was first arrested in Greece on October 13, 2023, upon arrival at Athens International Airport on a private plane. He was initially released with restrictions but was detained again in January after a judicial panel ruled in favor of his extradition. His legal team appealed that decision to the Supreme Court.
His conviction in Romania dates back to 2020, when he was found guilty of forming an “organized criminal group” that conspired with Prince Paul Philippe of Romania to illegally acquire former royal properties worth over $100 million.
This is not the first time a high court has blocked Steinmetz’s extradition. In 2021, the Athens Court of Appeals ruled against sending him to Romania, and Cyprus’ Supreme Court denied an extradition request in August 2023, citing concerns over “degrading and inhuman treatment.”
Steinmetz also faces legal troubles in Switzerland, where he was sentenced in 2021 to three years in prison for bribing the wife of Guinea’s former president to secure rights to one of the world’s largest iron ore deposits. He is currently awaiting a ruling on an appeal filed in early 2023.
