The Australian
June 1 2009
World’s most wanted living in Australia
By Kara Lawrence
June 01, 2009 12:00am
THEY are 16 of the world’s most wanted killers, sex predators, and
fraudsters – and police suspect they are hiding out in Australia.
Crime Stoppers International has provided The Daily Telegraph
exclusive access to the fugitive list as it begins its month-long
Internationally Wanted Fugitives Round-Up and Arrest campaign.
Gallery: World’s most wanted
The unprecedented global campaign is targeting half a billion people
as the "eyes and ears" of the police in Australia, the US, the UK,
South Africa, Canada, the Netherlands and the Caribbean.
International law enforcement agencies believe the 16 – who are among
almost 120 internationally-sought criminals – have entered Australia
and may still be here.
Countries with arrest warrants out range from Armenia to the US,
China, Indonesia, New Zealand and Canada.
Despite its isolation and tight border controls, Australia rates high
on the list of countries believed to have attracted international
fugitives, who have either already visited or may be in the country.
Of the wanted criminals on the international list, the US had 60
believed to be within its borders, Canada about 20, the UK 20, and
Australia close behind.
"I think that’s because the country’s sort of isolated geographically;
I think that people think they may be able to hide here without being
noticed," said Crime Stoppers Australia corporate affairs director
Peter Price.
"These guys are hardened criminals and they may have come in under
false passports or false pretences."
Topping the list is former South African lawyer George Prinsloo, 39,
whose deceptively bland and urbane looks mask his sexual predator’s
nature.
He is wanted for luring underage girls away from orphanages, drugging
them and paying them to engage in sex acts and child pornography.
Prinsloo had taunted police in his former homeland for the past three
years, as he has toured the world, including Australia and New
Zealand.
Also suspected of being in Australia is senior Canadian Hells Angel
bikie David Macdonald Carrol, 57, wanted for questioning over the
deaths of 13 people as well as for attempted murder, conspiracy to
commit murder, and gang and drugs offences, between 1995 and 2001.
Carrol remains on the run despite a major police operation conducted
by Canadian authorities in 2001 that resulted in the arrest and
incarceration of members of the Hells Angels and members of an
affiliated group, called the Rockers.
Also wanted are seven alleged Indonesian money launderers including
Adelin Lis, 51.
Lis, whose network of logging companies were accused of illegally
logging $30 billion worth of Sumatran timber between 1995 and 2008,
was acquitted of
illegal logging charges in late 2007. Indonesian authorities are still
pursuing him for money-laundering charges. The Australian wanted-list
includes Russian-speaking Armenian Arakel Sargsyan, sought for crimes
involving weapons or explosives.
Mr Price said he believed they were likely to be continuing their
crimes while living under assumed identities.
"These people are serious criminals. We’re talking about people
dealing with weapons, explosives and money laundering so it’s
reasonably safe to say a leopard doesn’t change its spots overnight,"
Mr Price said.
"If these guys are here, they’re not going to church every Sunday."
He said those who knew the fugitives might be in for a shock when they
discovered their true identities, but urged them not to confront them
as some might be armed and prone to extreme violence.
Know anything about the fugitives? Pass on your tip anonymously by
calling 1800 333 000 or logging on to crimestoppers.com.au
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