R -v- Haroutioun Arakelian

Local Court Downing Centre Criminal

Legal One acted for the defendant in relation to events and warrants that were issued almost 2 decades ago. Greg Stanton was briefed as Counsel.

In 2002, 21 warrants were issued against the defendant, but only executed in early 2020, due to the fact that he had moved to New Zealand.

The defendant was arrested, however, due to the fact that no charges had been laid in connection with the warrants, Mr. Greg Stanton successfully argued for the Defendant’s release.

On 18 Feb 2020, we were successful before the Burwood Local Court in obtaining a costs order against the NSW Police, because although the Warrants had been executed, no charges had been laid.

From the 21 warrants, only 2 charges were eventually laid against the Defendant, with these charges relating to the law of bailment, specifically, that the Defendant as bailee of precious stones, took and exchanged those goods for his own use, rather than paying for the property or returning it to the owner.

After successful negotiations with the prosecutor, the Defendant plead guilty to the two charges, and we successfully obtained a s.10 dismissal with no conviction recorded.

Read more here:

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/competitions/harry-arakelian-wentworth-point-man-guilty-of-leaving-australia-with-diamonds/news-story/d1880ce10145123938a4bbd22212536f