Alket Rizai is being sought by Greek authorities after failing to return to Domokos Prison on Monday morning, as required following the end of a temporary leave.
Rizai’s name is also at the center of an investigation into a shooting outside a beach bar in Anavyssos, south of Athens, in the early hours of Sunday.
Police have identified two men who allegedly took part in the incident and are searching for them, one of whom is Rizai.
Two arrests over Anavyssos shooting
Greek police have arrested the 41-year-old owner of the beach bar and his 39-year-old wife in connection with the incident.
The owner is accused of making a false statement, harboring a criminal, obstructing justice, and instigating the illegal possession and use of a firearm.
His wife faces charges of making a false statement and instigating the illegal possession and use of a firearm.
Police have also identified and are searching for two men who allegedly participated in the incident.
According to police sources, Rizai arrived at the beach bar with two other men. Shortly before 5 a.m., after the music at the establishment had stopped as it was closing, the three men went to their car and played music at a very high volume.
The owner went outside and confronted them, leading to a heated argument.
According to police sources, a fight then broke out during which Rizai allegedly pulled out a gun and fired into the air.
An Afghan man who reportedly worked as security at the business then opened fire at Rizai. The bullets ricocheted and injured two other workers.
A 20-year-old Greek man and a 41-year-old Pakistani man were injured and went to the Kalyvia Health Center for first aid.
Rizai and the two men who accompanied him then got into their car and fled. The Afghan man also left the scene and is being sought by police.
Rizai’s criminal record
Rizai first came to the attention of Greek police in the early 1990s in connection with drug cases.
In 2003, he planned and carried out the killing of Thanasis Koropiotis, whom he believed had entered into a relationship with his girlfriend. After an arrest during a police operation at an apartment in Nea Filadelfia, he was convicted and spent three years in prison.
Rizai became more widely known after escaping from Korydallos Prison by helicopter on June 4, 2006, together with convicted criminal Vassilis Palaiokostas.
While on the run, on August 26, 2006, he fatally shot 43-year-old Konstantinos Koutelieris and 36-year-old Ioannis Katsios in Peristeri. He was arrested several days later.
On Febuary 22, 2009, Rizai escaped again by helicopter from Korydallos Prison. He was recaptured several months later in Grammatikos, together with his partner.
In 2013, he made a third escape attempt, taking five prison guards hostage at Malandrino Prison. After 24 hours of negotiations, he surrendered to police.
In January 2021, he was arrested after police stopped a car he was driving with two other dangerous criminals during a routine traffic stop. At the time, he had been granted a five-day prison leave.
Rizai is serving two life sentences imposed by the Piraeus Court of Appeals for Felonies for the killings of Koutelieris and Katsios. He is also serving a combined 25-year prison sentence for the helicopter escape from Korydallos Prison.
