Greek lam

While bankers and economists are absorbed by the mechanics of the proposed bail-out of the Greek economy, our Athens correspondent Alex Mitchell considers the condition of Greece's criminal justice system ... Rex Jackson would be proud 

AS I write, Michalis Makriyiannis, a 49-year-old multiple-murderer serving four life sentences, is on the run.

The door to my hotel room is locked, but anxiety remains high.

Last week prisoner Makriyiannis was given a five-day furlough by those in charge of the maximum security Larissa Prison in central Greece.

Instead of returning at the weekend, he scarpered to enjoy some carafes of ouzo and retsina with his mates.

This is not the first time he has been a no-show after being granted a furlough.

In 2006 he did a runner while on five-day release from a jail on Crete and was not recaptured for 15 months.

During his extended freedom he teamed up with criminal associates armed with automatic weapons and grenades for a spree of robberies.

You would think that after the 2006 caper, Makriyiannis would be grounded indefinitely and confined to a super-cell with double padlocks.

Not the Greek way, I'm afraid.

Since his return to jail in October 2007 he has been granted 10 furloughs. He voluntarily returned to his cell on each occasion - except for a fortnight ago. 

Makriyiannis is serving four life sentences for five murders, three attempted murders and armed robbery.

He was convicted in 1994 for the murder of a waiter in Trikala, a girlfriend in eastern Attica, a postman in the coastal resort of Legrena, in southern Attica, and the armed robbery of a nightclub in October 1993, where he killed his friend's brother, the nightclub's cashier, and injured two more people.

In the US, Russia, China and other ruthless jurisdictions, he would have been sentenced to death by firing squad, the chair or a needle. 

Those methods are out of fashion in modern Greece where short-term restorative furloughs are all the rage.

In the wake of Makriyiannis's escape and another incident in which a female prisoner did a bunk with an artist friend, Greek citizens are being reassured.

The Ministry of Justice announced that it has placed the prisoner furlough scheme "under review" and the Justice Minister has said that he may purchase "electronic anklets" so those on leave can be monitored. 

The minister went on to say he is also considering a community release system to ease prison over-crowding.

Former NSW prison's minister, the late Rex (Buckets) Jackson would approve of these lightning responses.

In late July Greek police arrested 17 prison officers and inmates who were involved in a drugs ring in a number of jails, including Larissa.

For the record, the Larissa nick is the custodial institution where colourful Melbourne identity Tony Mokbel was accommodated prior his extradition to Oz in May 2008. 

Alex (Aleko) Mitchell is a former state political editor with The Sun-Herald an author of Come The Revolution: A Memoir (NewSouth Books 2011).