International fugitive Nickolas G. Spanos files motion for Brady Material.

Withholding of Brady Material by Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Shannon Taylor continues to violate constitutional rights

Despite repeated written requests for over 30 days by Nickolas Spanos's attorney Rhetta M. Daniel, the Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor is withholding and claims it is entitled to continue withholding evidence that from the Defendant that he must have to prepare for his defense of  unserved Indictments.  

The denial of providing the Brady Material has provoked a December 19, 2017 filing of a motion & memorandum totalling 40 pages, to compel the production of Brady Material by the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney.

Furthermore, the motion states "that the Commonwealth failed to provide the requisite documentation to the foreign authorities and the United States authorities in Greece and the Philippines to have the Defendant extradited timely. The Defendant also has reason to believe the Commonwealth has been suppressing evidence that casts grave doubts on the quality of the Commonwealth’s investigation, including evidence that the Commonwealth in its investigation failed to find any physical evidence that the Defendant could be convicted of any of the charges set out in the said Indictments." 

The 1998-99 Grand Jury 13 Indictments against Spanos are for Conspiracy to distribute Cocaine, The indictments claim that Spanos was involved in the trafficking of narcotics from 1987 to 1998.

A meeting, in November 1998, Spanos and his attorney Murray Janus met with Howard Vick and two Henrico detectives, Vick gave Spanos three choices "cooperate by testifying against others, do not cooperate and sit at the table with the big boys or you can leave for Greece". Spanos chose to leave for Greece just weeks before the Grand Jury indictments were issued against him. In various media statements he contended that the indictments were a "witch hunt" by the original Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Howard "Toby" Vick without any material evidence.

Coincidently, Howard Vick resigned from his position as Commonwealth Attorney on June 09, 2000 to join McGuire Woods LLP law firm, who represented Nickolas Spanos as co-trustee for his family trust and other close family members, notably his late father George N. Spanos since 1980.

The motion states that Howard Vick intentionally avoided extraditing Spanos from Greece for reason that it would have dampened his employment opportunity with McGuire Woods LLP by creating a conflict of interest and that employment negotiations were already in place before the Grand jury indictments against Spanos were issued.

The motion also states many irregular actions by the Henrico County Commonwealth Office from 1996 to present day, the most irregular being the failure or inaction of not extraditing Spanos despite knowing where his location has been for 18 years. 

Also stated that on October 18, 2012, Shannon Taylor had Spanos arrested in the Philippines but never processed an extradition request and had denied the Philippines DOJ numerous request for authenticated documents pertaining to the 13 Grand Jury indictments, which led to the illegal detention of Spanos in a Philippine jail for 19 months. The Philippine DOJ deported Spanos to Greece on June 01, 2014.

The motion is specifically requesting the following:

• Legible copies of all documents missing from the Henrico Circuit Court files from 1996 through the present;
• Legible copies of all statements by the defendant and any co-defendants;
• Legible copies of all documents and tangible objects in your possession or under your control that the prosecution will use at any Hearing or a trial;
• A Complete Witness List of all the witnesses the prosecution plans to have testify at a Hearing or at trial, including Ms. Shannon Taylor and Mr. Feinmel, as well as all prior recorded verbal and all written statements, letters, notes, computer documents containing any statements made by those witnesses that are relevant to the underlying Indictments or the extradition procedures engaged in by any person in the Office of the Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney;
• Legible copies of all reports of scientific tests and/or medical and physical examinations that have been prepared for the prosecution of Mr. Spanos;
• Legible copies of all exculpatory evidence within the possession or control of the Henrico County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, the Richmond Circuit Court and/or the Multi-Jurisdictional Grand Jury;
• Legible copies of all documentary or other evidence that will aid in defense of the Defendant's cases that is in possession of or under the control of Henrico County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, the Henrico Police Department, the Richmond Circuit Court and/or the Multi-Jurisdictional Grand Jury;
• Legible copies of all documents and all recorded information that affects the credibility of any prosecution witnesses, such as the prosecution offered its witness leniency in exchange for testimony, but not excluding any other type of information that may affect the credibility of any witness, including Ms. Taylor and Mr. Feinmel; [See: Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972)];
• Legible copies of all other exculpatory evidence such as the identity of all missing, senile or dead witnesses, but not excluding any other type of exculpatory evidence;
• All evidence and documents that contain any reference to any efforts or procedures instituted by Howard C. (Toby) Vick, former Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney to have the Defendant extradited or returned from Greece to the United States;
• All evidence and document that contain any reference to any negotiations for employment or offers of employment from McGuire Woods LLP, or any previous entity to McGuire Woods LLP, related in any manner to Howard C. (Toby) Vick, former Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney, when he was applying for any position or any employment with McGuire Woods LLP, Richmond, VA;
• All evidence and document that contain any reference to any negotiations or offers from McGuire Woods LLP, or any previous entity before McGuireWoods LLP was established, related to Howard C. (Toby) Vick’s, former Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney, having contact with Richard Cullen, Esquire, who was employed by McGuire Woods LLP, Richmond, VA, when Howard C. (Toby) Vick, Esquire, resigned as the Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney and became employed by McGuire Wood LLP or any previous entity that became McGuireWoods LLP; https://www.mcguirewoods.com/People/V/Howard-C-Vick-Jr.aspx & https://www.mcguirewoods.com/People/C/Richard-Cullen.aspx; and
• All evidence of any type of personal relationship with any witness between Henrico Detective/Officer J. T. Johnson and/or Detective/Officer . . . Clavert, who were/are or may have been employed by the Henrico County Virginia Police Department, but not excluding any other employees of Henrico County, Virginia, from 1980 through the present.

For additional clarity, I am including and requesting the following described materials, but not excluding any other documents, physical evidence or intangible evidence:

(a) The names and addresses of persons the prosecutor intends to call or may call as witnesses at trial.

(b) Statements of all other defendants and Mr. Spanos.

(c) All relevant "real evidence" seized or obtained as a part of the investigation of the offenses charged.

(d) The existence of a felony conviction of any material witness whose credibility is likely to be critical to the outcome of the trial.

(e) Any exculpatory evidence.

(f) Relevant written or recorded statements of witnesses or reports of the statements of witnesses whom the prosecutor intends to call at the trial, including any reports or statements of experts made in conjunction with the case, including the results of physical or mental examinations, scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons which the prosecutor intends to offer in evidence at the trial.

Spanos's attorney Rhetta M. Daniel states in the motion, that because of the irregular actions and violation of Spanos's constitutional rights, by the three (3) generations of Commonwealths attorneys Shannon Taylor, Wade Kizer and Howard Vick, all charges and indictments against Spanos must be dismissed.

Attorney Daniel inquired concerning whether the Commonwealth had copies of the document(s) that clearly had been removed from the official Henrico Circuit Court files for the Defendant and which documents by name appeared to be critical to the defense of the Defendant, the Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney did not know if the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney had copies or not.

Copies of the motions filed can be viewed at this link:         

Motion for Brady Material

Avoiding to "extradite an international fugitive" leads to corruption.

Three generations (19 years) of Henrico County Virginia Commonwealth Prosecutors covering up an Extradition for "International Fugitive" 

Grand jury indictments were issued against Nickolas G. Spanos in December 1998 and April 1999 for 13 counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Henrico County Commonwealth attorney Howard "Toby" Vick had stated in numerous media statements that Spanos was the hub of organization that distributed more than 600 kilos in the Richmond, Virginia area. Toby Vick alleged that Spanos customers were middle to upper-class businessmen, lawyers, doctors and other professionals, Spanos had operated the drug syndicate for over 10 years. Vick stated that Spanos fled to Greece before the indictments were issued and that the USA DEA has an office in Athens, Greece; Spanos will stand trial in Henrico county for the Grand Jury indictments, a bold statement by Henrico county C.A. Howard "Toby" Vick.
                               

      
Spanos responded back to Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Bill Wasson, "that Vick is going on a witch hunt", yes people were partying but not what it has been made out to be. Spanos challenged Vick by stating "I an just a bean in a bag of beans, a regular guy blending in the streets", basically telling Vick that there was no way he would bring him back. RTD reporter Bill Wasson asked if Spanos had dual citizenship, which Spanos replied yes and he would be going to the islands shortly. Also stating was that Vick's case was based on testimonies alone and that the main witness was his disgruntled jealous ex-gf that was lying and exaggerating for revenge, and that a brutal custody case led to all this.

From a non-biased view, certain questions rise, If Spanos was such a major cocaine dealer in the Richmond area for over 10 years, why couldn't the Henrico Police department catch him? Would there not be a money trail? 600 kilos of cocaine has a street value of over $18,000,000. (18 million USD.)

Toby Vick had brought in many members of his family for questioning, in which they had no idea of the alleged cocaine distribution, one sister asked Vick "where did all the money go?" Vick replied " he was buying a lot of drinks for people in the bars"

The Henrico narcotics police served 2 search warrants, one at Spanos home in Hanover county and another one at his mothers home in Henrico county, their main witness had given the information that was the location of drugs and money. No drugs or money was found but they did find Spanos's mothers stash of Greek coffee wrapped in aluminium foils sealed with plastic in the freezer.

A non-biased view would say that the Henrico C.A. main witness has led them on a wild story since she was the disgruntled, jealous ex that was in a hard custody battle with a good chance of losing custody. The Henrico C.A. Toby Vick probably did not mention in the multi-jurisdictional grand jury hearings that the ex had a history of mental illness and that she attempted suicide on Christmas day, leading to confinement at a psychiatric ward for a 48 hour suicide watch.

In the statements C.A. Toby Vick made to the media, no mention of the confiscation of drugs or money was mentioned, only that there were witnesses that testified that they bought cocaine from Spanos.

Henrico County C.A. Toby Vick had a Federal warrant of arrest for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution issued on December 14, 1998, 1 week after the Multi-jurisdictional Grand Jury issued the 13 indictments against Spanos (18 days after Spanos left for Greece)   

Despite having the Federal warrant issued, no request to the DOJ Office of International Affairs to have an Interpol Red Notice issued for Spanos and begin extradition procedures, which would have alerted the International law enforcement community to arrest Spanos.

C.A. Toby Vick did not even inform the U.S. State Department in order to cancel Spanos's USA passport, this would have made him "undocumented" and his deportation would have even been easier than an Extradition request.

The question might come up that Vick was an inexperienced prosecutor that did not know the procedures when a suspect becomes an "international fugitive", lets take a look at Henrico C.A. Howard Vick's resume:

Commonwealth's Attorney, Henrico County, Virginia; 
Head of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia’s Organized Crime-Drug Enforcement Task Force; 
Head of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida’s (Miami) Organized Crime-Drug Enforcement Task Force; 
Member of the DOJ’s Organized Crime Strike Force in New Orleans; 
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Arlington, Virginia 
Assistant Attorney General, Commonwealth of Virginia (Richmond), 

With a resume like this, Toby Vick could easily extradite someone like Spanos who was on limited funds in a foreign country with only a USA passport that would only give him 60 days visa in Greece.

The case against Spanos became stronger as three of his associates pleaded guilty to lesser charges and testified against Spanos as part of their plea bargains in April 1999.
Again no attempt was made by C.A. Toby Vick to have Spanos extradited from Greece, Europe or any other destination he might attempt to travel to.

The non-biased view might ask if Spanos was the "hub of a drug syndicate that distributed over 600 kilos of cocaine" , why Henrico C.A. Toby Vick not even make an attempt to take any legal action to extradite Spanos?

To go through a Multi-jurisdictional Grand Jury bringing in more that 15 witnesses to testify, also presenting evidence to a jury, thousands of police hours to investigate and interview witnesses, issuing subpoenas and other legal instruments is no small task. Toby Vick would have just had to cross the hall from his office, go to the Henrico county clerks office, have a capias issued and signed by a judge. Then send it to various agencies to have the necessary action taken to bring Spanos back, either by extradition or deportation, pretty simple maybe 1 hours worth of work?

The surprising point is that on July 06, 2001, the December 14, 1998 Federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was dismissed based on a government motion.

Coincidently, Henrico county CA Toby Vick resigned from his position with the Henrico County CA office on June 09, 2000 and joined the McGuire-Woods law firm, which was the law firm handling Spanos's late father’s estate, which Spanos was co-trustee with his mother. Toby Vick’s decision to join McGuire-Woods law firm did not happen overnight, he had planned this for quite a while, possibly before the 1998-99 grand jury hearings. 
http://www.richmond.com/city-life/news/article_511631a5-9b51-5583-b112-6b944498564b.html

The position will reunite him with former Virginia Attorney General Richard Cullen, who now heads up that team for the firm. Vick worked for Cullen before he was appointed Henrico Commonwealth's attorney when Cullen was U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

• Would there be some sort of conflict of interest if Spanos was to be returned and stand trial for the 13 Grand Jury indictments for drug charges? 

• Could it have shut the door on Toby Vick’s partnership with McGuire-Woods law firm? 

Howard Vick's partnership with McGuire Woods LLP. was his golden ticket. McGuire Woods LLP. is a U.S. law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys in 23 offices across the United States, Asia and Europe. The firm's largest offices are in Richmond, VA, Charlotte, NC, and Chicago, IL.. Very suspicious?

On September 10, 2006, Nickolas Spanos walks into the U.S. Embassy Athens and applies to renew his USA passport, 4 days later, he picks up his brand new USA Passport with no questions asked. His previous USA passport expired on June 14, 2003.

A non-biased view might ask, why isn't the most powerful embassy of the civilized world not putting out a wanted notice if this "international fugitive" might happen to visit the most secured embassy in the world?

On February 20, 2007, a Federal warrant was issued for Spanos arrest, the charge is Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution warrant which is a request by the state for federal assistance in apprehending someone who is charged with a felony and has crossed state lines or fled the country.

Again, Henrico County Commonwealths Attorney Wade Kizer makes no attempt to have Spanos extradited or even cancel his newly acquired USA passport which is less than 7 months old and would expire 10 years later in 2016. In the February 20, 2007 Affidavit signed by Christopher Doering, Special Agent, FBI, he states the exact location of Spanos, as listed on his passport application, Messologion 21, Athens, Greece. January 12, 2007, Henrico Police Investigator E.S. Brown requests from the FBI in locating Spanos. 

A non-biased view would continue to ask the same questions, why wasn't one single attempt made to bring Spanos to justice? What was the Henrico C.A. office and now the federal law enforcement agencies waiting for? What or who was the Henrico C.A. office protecting?

Another five years pass and a situation which was brought in detail in our previous article, 
U.S. Embassy legal attaches tied to extortion and human trafficking., in which Spanos was arrested in the Philippines On October 18, 2012 and detained  for 19 months, USA DOJ, U.S.Embassy Manila legal attaches (FBI) and more importantly Henrico County C.A. Shannon Taylor never processed an extradition request. They kept the arrest hidden from the media until the Richmond Times Dispatch received a tip that a relative of Spanos had requested authenticated copies of the 1998-99 Multi-jurisdictional Grand Jury on February 28, 2013.

A Richmond Times Dispatch news article on March 01, 2013 published that Nickolas Spanos was found in the Philippines and detained by Philippine Immigration. 
http://www.richmond.com/news/alleged-coke-dealer-located-in-philippines-after-years-on-the/article_6e331ad0-599d-5d2b-b6c8-310144479dc1.html


Henrico County authorities and the FBI confirmed Thursday that Nickolas George Spanos, 48, is in the custody of Philippine authorities on separate, unresolved charges there, Henrico C.A. Shannon Taylor states "that it is not clear when the former seafood dealer could be returned to this country"

"Henrico County authorities and the FBI confirmed Thursday that Nickolas George Spanos, 48, is in the custody of Philippine authorities on separate, unresolved charges there."

"Vick said in an email Thursday that he was aware that Spanos had been arrested; he had predicted in 1999 that it would happen. “I'm fully confident that Nick Spanos will stand trial in Henrico Circuit Court,” Vick said then."

The fact is that Spanos's arrest by Philippine authorities was based on the request of Henrico County CA office and the U.S.Embassy Manila legal attaches, there was no other pending charges against Spanos.

On September 10, 2013, 11 months after Spanos arrest in the Philippines, the Henrico county Circuit court issues an arrest warrant for Spanos for the 1998-99 Grand jury indictments.

A non-biased view would question the delay in issuing a September 10, 2013 arrest warrant, 11 months after Spanos arrest in the Philippines. Why did C.A. Shannon Taylor hide the fact of Spanos arrest in the Philippines?

The Philippine DOJ made several requests to Henrico County CA office to send them authenticated copies of the 1998-99 Grand jury indictments and other important documents. Henrico county CA Shannon Taylor refused their request.

Despite numerous letters from the U.S. FBI to Philippines Immigration officials demanding Spanos's deportation to the USA, he was deported to Greece on June 01, 2014.

Upon Spanos's arrival in Athens, Greece on June 02, 2014, he was greeted by Greek national security officials, in which they presented an Interpol Red notice asking for his provisional arrest in order for the U.S. DOJ could process the request for extradition.

Nickolas Spanos aka Nikolaos Spanoudis was brought before a Greek DOJ Prosecutor and was presented with the attached documents to the Interpol Red notice, a Capias from Henrico county Circuit court showing a September 13, 2013 certified date, 15 years after the multi-jurisdictional grand jury had issued the 13 indictments.


Greek DOJ Prosecutor held Spanos under the 60 day provisional arrest article listed in most USA Extradition treaties. The USA DOJ Office of international Affairs has to submit the required documents as stipulated in the USA-Greece Extradition treaty. On July 30, 2014, the U.S. Embassy Athens submitted all the required documents to the Greek DOJ Prosecutor, Spanos was ordered to be detained until the September 23 2014 Extradition hearing. To view: USA DOJ Extradition request with supporting documents 

During his Extradition detention, Greek justice authorities charged Spanos with the 1998-99 Grand Jury indictments that the USA DOJ submitted. Under the USA-Greece Extradition treaty, Greece may prosecute a Greek national under Greek law if the Extradition is refused.

On September 24, 2014, a Greek Tribunal denied the USA Extradition request. No USA embassy official attended the trial nor did the USA embassy retain an attorney to present evidence on their behalf.

The Greek DOJ Prosecutors office informed the USA DOJ OIA and the USA Embassy Athens of the Greek tribunals decision and also of the Greek DOJ obligation to prosecute Spanos under Greek law, the Greek DOJ requested that any evidence that Henrico county C.A wanted to present, that they should to forward it to Greek Prosecutors. No evidence was ever sent or a reply by Henrico county C.A.

On March 27, 2015, A Greek Tribunal dismissed all 13 indictments against Spanos and ordered his release. The Greek DOJ notified the USA Embassy Athens and the USA DOJ OIA of the decision, the USA DOJ refused to file an appeal to the decision.
Below are the short decision of the Greek tribunal.

The main issue is why did Henrico county CA Shannon Taylor not attempt to process an extradition request in the Philippines, where she had the best chance to bring Spanos back to the USA to face the 13 indictments? 

Why did Shannon Taylor attempt an Extradition request from Greece, where she knew that Greece was Spanos's safe haven and that Greece does not extradite its own nationals?

The conclusion of all the facts is that the three generations of Henrico County Commonwealth Attorneys were making more efforts to keep fugitive Nickolas Spanos out of the United States than to extradite him and have him face the 13 Grand jury indictments. Only ex-Henrico CA Howard "Toby" Vick , Wade Kizer & Shannon Taylor know the answer to why..

Imprisoned Senator Leila De Lima faces more criminal complaints filed with OHCHR

Senator De Lima and her criminal syndicate are listed in Criminal Complaint
(Part 2)

Just by coincidence a day before, politicians from around the world voted to award Liberal International’s highest human rights honour – the Prize for Freedom – to imprisoned Philippines political prisoner, Senator Leila de Lima. https://liberal-international.org/news-articles/philippines-political-prisoner-de-lima-receive-lis-top-human-rights-award/

A November 01, 2017 Criminal complaint was filed against:

Department of Justice

Secretary Leila De Lima

Bureau of Immigration

Commissioners 

Ricardo David jr.

Siegfried B. Mison

Abdullah S. Mangotara

Ronaldo P. Ledesma

Chief of Legal

Arvin Cesar Santos

The charges listed are violations of:

United Nations Human rights Treaty violations

1. Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or           Punishment

2. International Convention on Civil and Political Rights Malicious delay of justice

3. Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optical Protocols

Nikolaos George Spanoudis aka Nickolas George Spanos,Greek/USA citizen filed the criminal complaint in which he states:

The Philippines Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration and Commission of Human Rights would be categorized as a "Criminal Syndicate" since there are 6 main Government officials and numerous others involved in the crimes against foreigners.

The Philippines Department of Justice is the parent agency that manages the Bureau of Immigration. Their actions are coordinated between each other. Thus any final decision of the Bureau of Immigration that will be appealed is required to be resolved with the Department of Justice. If the final decision of the DOJ is to be appealed, it then is submitted to the Court of Appeals. This process can take 2 years before reaching the Court of Appeals. Thus this "criminal syndicate" has been prosperous between the 2 agencies by extorting foreigners detained as to have cases resolved in their favour. Paying extortion money has become very profitable for DOJ/BI prosecutors, Commissioners and legal staff.

"The Bureau of Immigration, DOJ and CHR officials listed in this complaint knew that an illegal mission order authorizing the warrantless arrest of Nikolaos George Spanoudis aka Nickolas George Spanos as per BI chief of intelligence Attorney Mangrobang handwritten note. 

Said warrant-less arrest was not pursuant to the Philippines 1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure, Rule 113, sections 5, 8, 11 & 13.

That the circumstances under which the victim was arrested are not one of those provided in above 1985 Rules on Criminal Procedure, where a warrant-less arrest can be made for victim was not committing any offence at the time. Furthermore, according to the ruling of the Supreme Court:

"3. Only judicial officer or any person duly authorized by law can issue warrants of arrest. Such power is not possessed by the then fiscals or state attorneys (Lino vs. Fugoso, et. al., 77 Phil. 933) Under the 1987 Constitution, no warrant of arrest shall issue except under probable cause determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the complaint and the persons to be seized (Sec 2, Art. III)

4. No warrant of arrest can be issued by the Immigration Commissioner before the final order of deportation is issued (Neria vs. Vivo, etc., L26611-12, Sept. 30, 1969) and such warrant is confined only to carry out said deportation order (Contemplate vs. Acting Commissioner of Immigration, et al.,L28604, Oct.30, 1970; Collector of Customs vs. Villaluz, etc., et al., L-34038, June 18, 1970)"

On October 18, 2012 , Cebu, Philippines. A team of 6 immigration officers, headed by Armello De Castro, came to my office with an undated "mission order", with a handwritten note by Chief of Intelligence Marie Antionette Bucasas Mangrobang to arrest me:

"For honorable comm. Subjects location has been determined in Cebu, arrest will be effected as soon as this is signed and subject is sighted. 6-17-12"

Mission orders have been deemed illegal by the Philippines Supreme court and the DOJ has issued multiple memorandums to the BI that "Mission orders are not to be used as warrants of arrest". The arresting BI team said the USA embassy/FBI wanted me arrested.

I had retained lawyers, Maria Lara Leah/Rodinel Bugay, they told me that they were told by Immigration Chief Legal Arvin Santos, that I would be deported to USA in 2 weeks, my Greek citizenship would take 3-4 weeks to verify, if I wanted to delay deport to USA, I needed to pay $5000 USD, if I wanted to be released, I needed to pay $50,000 (2 million php).

On October 27, 2012, Immigration informed the newspapers of my arrest and I was using fake names/passports. This was false, immigration did this to use it psychologically to pressure me to pay the extortion money. Newspaper article after arrest to embarrass/threaten/ psychological stress.

On Nov. 05, 2012 I paid $5000 by bank deposit, also provided a bank certificate to prove I had the $50,000 in a bank account.

On Nov. 05, 2012, Greek Embassy Deputy Ambassador Nicholas Verghis issued a letter verifying my passport was authentic. I had only entered the Philippines on my Greek Passport; thus my established nationality was Greek. The only legal action the United States Government could take was a formal request for extradition as per the USA-Philippine extradition treaty of 1994.

Chief of Legal Arvin Santos then wanted $100,000 USD (4 million php) to release me, said that the commissioners needed to be paid. After a few days, I agreed to see his reaction and showing him a verification that I had the money in a bank account.

After a few more days, he wanted $150,000 USD (9 million php) because USA embassy officials needed to be paid. I refused.

On Nov. 19, 2012, my lawyers filed a "Motion to quash the Oct. 19, 2012 charge sheet". By law, they must answer within 30 days.

In late December 2012, lawyers asked me if I was to pay the $150,000 (9 million php), the immigration wanted their Christmas gift, if I did not pay, I was to be deported, I refused again.

On. March 03, 2013 I went to clinic and was checked by nurse that i had an infected tooth and needed medical care, a request for medical pass was sent since there are no dental facilities are there at detention center. No answer was given, I repeated my requests and informed warden that my tooth was in extreme pain and needed dental treatment. No answer again. I was checked by the nurse at facility, who called immigration Dr. Theresa Montenegro, who followed up to executive director Eric Dimaculangan and Commissioner Siegfred Mison. They denied my request for medical care. 

On April 04, 2013 I contacted my lawyer Deborah Daquis and Greek embassy Angelo Tsalsidis, who both came to Bicutan facility to verbally complain to the warden Rev De LA Cruz, stating complaints would be filed against him. About 10 days later, I was taken to a dental clinic in a mall close by. I had to suffer for 43 days before being taken. I filed complaints with Ombudsman against Eric Dimaculangan, Ricardo David jr. and Dr. Theresa Montenegro for Dental torture/denial of medical care.

During my entire illegal detention at Bicutan Immigration detention center, my family and my human rights were violated by the Immigration executive director Eric Dimaculangan. The detention facility was managed under rules and regulations not approved by the DOJ or registered with ONAR.

Letters have been sent to Eric Dimaculangan, OIC Executive Director, in regards to the Rules and Guidelines of the Bicutan BI Immigration Detention center, to which he has never replied. He continued to implement and enforce "fantasy" Rules and Guidelines without these being approved by the DOJ and registered with ONAR.

These "fantasy" rules and regulation deny visitation rights by the detainee’s immediate family members and spiritual counselors on every Monday of every week. This is in direct violation of Republic Act No. 7438.

On September 13, 2013, Nikolaos Spanoudis has a Habeas Corpus (Latin for "present the body") hearing in which he was to appear, BI Chief Siegfred Mison in a letter to Chief of legal Arvin Cesar Santos, denied the court pass for Spanoudis to appear to his hearing which is mandatory for the complainant to appear, disregarding regional court orders.

The BI Bicutan Detention Center is an administrative holding facility for foreigners with alleged administrative violations, not criminal charges, thus it is not a jail or prison. Foreigners come from all parts of the world with different time zones, it is necessity to have communication with their immediate family members, embassy officials, lawyers, and spiritual advisors.

Also they prohibit the use of mobile phones and personal computer units which denies detainees access to immediate family members, lawyers, embassy officials, and spiritual counselors.

The BI Bicutan Detention Center allows 1 landline to be used by detainees during 9am to 5pm. This landline is shared with the BI administrative department which also uses it for communication and faxing. There are over 150 people using this 1 landline to communicate. It is impossible for the detainees rights under Republic Act No. 7438 to communicate within the rights provided within the act. Detainees are denied of this right

In November 2013, my lawyer requested that i be deported back to Greece because the delays were inexcusable and intentionally denying my liberty. In December, after many contacts to DOJ secretary De Limas staff, by my lawyer, still no resolution to my appeal.

In January 06. , 2014, my lawyer personally met with DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima, she pointed out all the human rights and due process violations. DOJ secretary said my case would be resolved asap.

My lawyer followed up with letters, still no response. My lawyer met with Office of President assistant secretary Jed Eva and followed up with letters stating violation of due process and the 1987 Philippines. Constitution. In which the Office of President contacted DOJ to resolve my case. Still no answer. 

On February 24, 2014, our news reporting exposed human rights violations by the Bureau of Immigration that released free a British paedophile that had raped a 6 year old girl 3 times. This was BI Chief Siegfred's first order after his appointment by President Aquino, recommended by DOJ Chief Leila De Lima. This led to another Philippines Senate Resolution inquiry 540 by Senator Nancy Binary into the corruption inside the Immigration legal department.

On March 28, 2014 a letter from my attorney to the Office of the President to take Disciplinary action against DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima.

On April 07, 2014, a letter is written by DOJ secretary Leila De Lima justifying that the ongoing detention of me is for reason that USA claims I am a "fugitive from justice" and they are requesting I should be deported to USA not Greece. DOJ secretary Leila De Lima states that the request to be released and/or be deported to Greece is denied. 

At no time during my 19-month illegal detention were any warrants of arrest or authenticated documents produced to prove the allegations nor had I been charged with a crime. The provisions of the USA-Philippines Extradition Treat of 1994 were being completely ignored.

On April 10, 2014, I filed criminal complaints against DOJ secretary Leila De Lima, DOJ state council Ricardo V. Paras III and asst. State council Paulito De Jesus with the Ombudsman office.

The delayed resolution of the appeal with DOJ, clearly a violation of Section 14 Book VII of Executive Order 292. More than six (6) months of omitting to act in the resolution of appeal memorandum is likewise a violation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which provides under Sec. 15, Article VIII thereof for the lower courts to decide cases within ninety (90) days.

I had been illegally detained by the DOJ/Immigration for 19 months has presented more evidence to the Ombudsman to prove that DOJ Chief Leila De Lima is arbitrarily detaining me and causing malicious delay in resolving his Appeal Memorandum.

I provided resolution orders of 3 other foreigners who had Appeals before the DOJ in the same year as mine but the 3 appeals were resolved in 45 days to 6 months, while i was been illegally detained for 19 months and no decision has been made.

Despite 2 motions before the DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima for temporary liberty/bail, to be able to return to my pregnant fiancé, 3 year old son and take care of my business, DOJ Secretary denied my requests stating "There is no merit in his request to be released on bail for humanitarian reasons".

That DOJ secretary Leila De Lima in her orgy to persecute me for exposing corruption and human rights violations in the DOJ/Immigration, had also violated the human rights of my fiancé and children and put them under mental stress and in danger.

Leila De Lima had served as the Commission on Human Rights from 2008-2010 and is fully aware of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the Philippines is s signatory to.

The ombudsman office sent many letters to DOJ secretary Leila De Lima to resolve my case. Knowing my human rights were being violated, they did not investigate or file any charges as of this date of writing.

The DOJ secretary De Lima kept me illegally detained for 19 months, maliciously persecuting me for the reason of exposing the corruption in her agencies and her fellow criminal syndicate.

On May 07, 2014, my fiancé and I filed criminal complaints against DOJ secretary Leila De Lima, DOJ state council Ricardo V. Paras III and asst. State council Paulito De Jesus with the CHR, our complaint was couriered to

Atty. Diana B. De Leon 

Chief Investigation Division 

Legal and Investigation Office 

Commission on Human Rights

In which she sent an acknowledgement email on May 12, 2014 that she had received our complaint and forwarded to Atty. Gilbert Boiser, Director of CHR-NCR for its appropriate action/investigation. 

The Ombudsman graft and prosecution office issues notice on May 7, 2014 to DOJ Sec. Leila De Lima to take immediate action to resolve my appeal memorandum and also explain the complaint filed against her and DOJ state counsels Ricardo V. Paras and Paulito De Jesus. 

On May 12, 2014, a dispatch letter was issued to answer the complaint filed.

A May 23, 2014, a dispatch letter was sent to DOJ secretary De Lima to resolve my pending appeal.

On Friday, May 31, 2014, 2 days before I was to deport to Greece, DOJ resolved my appeal case, 8 months past the legal time allowed.

On Monday, June 02, 2014, I was deported to Greece not USA, thus DOJ secretary Leila De Lima's April 07, 2014 letter is full of lies and deception in a desperate attempt to cover up the Philippines DOJ/Immigration human rights violations against me.

My fiancé and I were harassed and constantly under mental stress by the guards, they were constantly telling me us that I would be deported to USA and go to prison for long period and never allowed back in the Philippines, never to see my fiancé or children.

We were threatened to keep quiet and do not complain or we would disappear like trouble makers in the Marcos days. My fiancé even filed a police report against the guards.

The Bicutan Immigration detention center was a torture/execution center used in the Marcos era. There is a weapons shooting range directly behind the Bicutan detention center, constant firing of weapons take place 14 hours a day, even stray bullets hit the facility. Early morning hours the guards would rev the engines to their motorcycles inside the facility just to deny us sleep. There was constant psychological torture to the detainees.

The DOJ/Immigration officials constantly refer to the letters of the USA embassy for justification of my arrest. They never followed their Constitution, Criminal code, Supreme court rulings and the USA – Philippines extradition treaty of 1994. If it was the intention of the USA embassy/FBI to have me extradited, then they would have followed their procedures and started the extradition process as per the USA-Philippines Extradition treaty.

The crimes committed by Leila De Lima and her criminal syndicate not only affects the due process and human rights of foreigners but also the innocent. Nikolaos Spanoudis company, LCI SOLUTIONS inc. not only employed over 400 Filipinos but also supported from his own pocket Cebu Heroes. www.facebook.com/cebuheroes. A charity which supported over 60 children in two orphanages, Missionaries of the Poor and Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts with food, clothing, medical supplies, computers for education and mental support by LCI Solutions staff. All this gone after 19 months of illegal detention.

In my case, it began as kidnapping/extortion attempt but after reporting on the corruption and human rights violations of foreigners, their actions were to punish and torture, both physically and mentally, me and my family  for exposing them to the international community.

Despite the allegations claimed by the USA Embassy Manilla, the Philippines DOJ/Bureau of Immigration and being arbitrarily detained for 19 months, the result was that I was deported back to Athens, Greece, not the USA, which was their justification for arbitrarily detaining me for 19 months for a non-existent administrative charge, the only valid reason for my detention was an attempt to extort me for $150,000.

The atrocities of arbitrary detention, physical and mental torture, denial of due process and civil rights, and persecution of foreigners, kidnapping and extortion of foreigners continue to this day at Bicutan Immigration detention center at Camp Bagong Diwa, Manilla.

The OHCHR complaint and supporting documents can be viewed at Drop bok link to OHCHR