Authorities in Greece have ordered Larissa city train station chief Vasilis Samaras to remain in custody pending trial on charges stemming from last week’s accident around the town of Tempi, which left at least 57 people dead.
Samaras’ lawyer, Stefanos Pantzartzidis, has detailed that the man appeared on Sunday for more than seven hours to give his version of what happened, after which he was transferred to prison, where he will remain until the start of the trial, according to the Greek newspaper ‘Ta Nea’.
Thus, he stressed that the decision was adopted »unanimously» and pointed out that »it was something foreseeable due to the importance of the case and the responsibilities». The defendant has told everything, as things happened, regardless of the fact that certain responsibilities may fall on him,» he said.
Samaras’ appearance took place on a day in which clashes were recorded during a demonstration protesting the authorities’ response to the train accident. For his part, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis posted a message on social media apologizing for what happened in the train accident.
»Let me start with the obvious. As prime minister I owe everyone, but above all the families of the victims, a huge apology both personally and on behalf of all those who have governed the country in recent years,» he said, before stressing that there will be a swift judicial investigation to clarify responsibilities and advancing that the Ministry responsible will announce new measures in a matter of days to improve railroad safety.
The accident took place when a passenger train with some 350 people on board collided with a freight train, causing the derailment of three wagons with passengers. The Greek government declared three days of nationwide mourning, until Friday, over the incident.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
