11/11/14

[Maik]

Four found guilty for catastrophic fires that ravaged Ilia in 2007
The huge fires in August 2007 resulted in 63 deaths nationwide and left thousands homeless

The Appeal Court of Patra has found four out of five defendants guilty for the charges faced in relation to catastrophic fires that ravaged Ilia in August of 2007.

According to local media, the former prefect governor of Ilia Charalambos Kafyras, the former mayor of Zacharo Pantazis Chronopoulos, former fireguard Panagiotis Tsouras and 84-year-old local resident Sofia Nikolopoulou were all found guilty of arson.

The head of a local Fire Department Nikos Michalopoulos was found innocent, at the proposal of the prosecution.

http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=649622

[TonyKath]

It's been a long, long time since we had a dire mayor story and this must rate as about the worst.    .  If you see anything about the sentences can you let us know. 

Tony

[Maik]

Will do, Tony. I'm wondering if the article lost something in translation and that the charge was negligence of duty, even I'm having a bit of trouble digesting that the former prefect governor, former mayor and a granny personally and deliberately started the fires. Such a long time ago that I've forgotten the details, if I ever read them all. I can recall there was a lot of confusion, anger and accusations. I've found an interesting article, written just after the fires, on the European Tribune.

While on the subject, I was having a bit of a clear out recently and came across an old CD with piccies I took of the 2007 fire across Elios-Pronnoi. Most appeared on GGi at the time but were lost when I changed the board software and server. If anyone wants to have a look, the piccies are re-posted in Fires.

[Maik]

Three British nationals are among 11 people reportedly set to be questioned by police in the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Seven of them, including a British man and woman, will be identified as new suspects and declared as “arguidos”, or formal suspects under Portuguese law, it has been reported.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/madeleine-mccann-latest-three-british-nationals-to-be-questioned-by-police-investigating-girls-disappearance-9853266.html

[Maik]

Must watch: Hilarious own goal scored by hapless amateur in Greece

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/must-watch-hilarious-own-goal-scored-by-hapless-amateur-in-greece-9854411.html

Not sure it's that hilarious but if you can't view the vid clip in the link try here.

[Maik]

Komotini, Greece:  Christos Mousafidis, a police officer on the Greek-Albanian border, mainly deals with drug trafficking and illegal immigration. But this year he is grappling with a different kind of crime: herb smuggling.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/stolen-or-farmed-greek-mountain-herbs-take-off-619129