From terror suspects to clothing designers: Aussies listed on Interpol’s red list revealed as James Dalamangas arrested

When Greek authorities swooped on alleged stabbing suspect James Dalamangas this week, it ended an astonishing 27 years of evading arrest.

The now 55-year-old Aussie had been wanted ever since Sydney man George Giannopoulous was fatally stabbed in a Belmore nightclub in 1999.

Earlier this week, Mr Dalamangas was arrested in a property in Aigialeia in central Greece, bringing to a conclusion almost 30 years undetected.

But just which other Aussies remain at large overseas? And just how do some steer clear of authorities for so long?

Xanthe Weston, an associate professor of criminology at Central Queensland University, said Mr Dalamangas’ low key lifestyle would have helped him go undetected for so long.

“We’re talking 27 years, so he obviously had to have obtained a new identity and kept himself incredibly low key,” she said.

“It is all about not drawing attention to yourself, finding somewhere to live and mixing with the locals in a way that doesn’t make you stand out.”

There are currently more than 3000 names on Interpol’s red alert list – however just five of these are either Australian, or have links Down Under.

Dr Weston said this low proportion of Australian’s on the list was unsurprising, given how sparsely populated the country is – adding it was more likely to be a place people may choose to hide in.

“It is probably fairly easy to vanish in Australia, if you find an outback village to settle in,” she added.

“It is probably getting slightly more difficult for people to stay hidden away these days, with advances of technology and social media.

“It is hard to hide forever, but obviously it can be done.”

The five wanted people on the list include terror suspects, accused swindlers and a clothing designer-turned-suspected drugs smuggler.

Meliad Farah, 45, wanted on alleged terror involvement

Kogarah-born Meliad Farah has been wanted for more than a decade, since a terror attack in Burgas, Bulgaria in July 2012, which killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver.

The horrific incident was a suicide bombing on a bus leaving Burgas Airport.

Mr Farah, who would now by 45, is accused of having a role in the planning of the atrocity, which also left 32 civilians with injuries.

Also going by the name of Hussein Hussein, Bulgarian authorities released a photograph of the Australian in July 2013, along with a co-accused Canadian called Hassan al-Haj.

Qui Shan Lian, 44, wanted for alleged drug smuggling

One of the most unlikely names on the list is Melbourne clothing designer Qui Shan Lian.

In her professional career she has rubbed shoulders with the famous and glamorous.

However, she now keeps a far lower profile, having been wanted on suspected drug charges since 2017.

An Interpol red notice for her was issued at the request of Chinese authorities.

At the time of the notice being issued, she was 36 years old

Thi Hoa Trung Trinh, 56, wanted for abusing trust to appropriate property

Scarce details are available about Thi Hoa Trung Trinh, who was added to Interpol’s red notice list around four years ago.

Now 56, she is a Vietnamese national who has known connections to Australia.

She is described as about 155cm tall with black hair and dark eyes.

She is suspected of abusing trust in order to appropriate property and is wanted by authorities in Vietnam.

Abdulzagir Medjidov, 55, wanted for attempted murder and preparation for a crime

Born in the Russian republic of Dagestan, Mr Medjidov holds dual Russian and Australian citizenship.

Now 55, he has been wanted for 13 years, with the original warrant for his arrest issued in 2013.

He is wanted for attempted murder and preparation for a crime and speaks both English and Russian.

Thi Minh Phung Duong, 65, wanted for swindling

Australian national Thi Ming Phung Duong has evaded authorities for well over a decade.

Now 65-years-old, she is wanted for fraud offences – appropriating property through swindling – and has been on the red notice list since 2011.

It is alleged she committed fraudulent activity in Vietnam, although details of this are scarce.

She was born in Vietnam, but is listed by Interpol as an Australian and speaks both English and Vietnamese.