ATHENS, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Greece's Supreme Court on Tuesday postponed a hearing on the extradition of Australia's most wanted fugitive until March 4 pending a ruling by the high court in Canberra on the validity of the request.

An Australian court had sentenced Tony Mokbel, also known as "Fat Tony", to 12 years in jail in absentia for trafficking cocaine and police had asked Greece to extradite him to serve his sentence.

Mokbel's lawyers have challenged the request in Australia's high court, arguing it should not have been signed by the country's justice minister but by the attorney general.

"The Greek Supreme Court adjourned because it is very important for us to know if the request is valid or not. If it is not valid then there is no question for the Greek justice," defence lawyer Alexandros Lykourezos told reporters.

Mokbel is also wanted in Australia on suspicion of ordering and paying for the murder of rival crime boss Lewis Moran and another man, but he denies any involvement.

A Greek court earlier this year ruled in favour of Australia's extradition request. But Mokbel's lawyers appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

Mokbel has been in jail in Greece since his arrest at an Athens suburb in early June. He had lived in the country for nine months with his girlfriend, a daughter and another child.

In September, a Greek court sentenced him to one year in jail for possession of forged documents found on him when he was arrested.

His lawyers have insisted that months of negative publicity in Australia, and even comments by senior state politicians regarding Mokbel and his arrest in Greece, are likely to deny him the chance for a fair trial. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Sami Aboudi)

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