Arrested was judged, after his apology to the 6th regular investigator of Thessaloniki, o police officer where was arrested from the “incorruptible” of EL.AS. charged with trafficking in illegal immigrantsthrough the international airport “Macedonia” of Thessaloniki.

The 46-year-old accused, with police rank B and trade union activity, is being prosecuted for criminal organization, facilitating the exit from Greek territory of citizens of third countries (continuously and professionally) and provocation – offer to commit a crime (the first two felonies, the third misdemeanor).

He was arrested last Thursday morning by his colleagues from the Internal Affairs Sub-Directorate of the Security Forces of Northern Greece, who had been following him for months investigating his alleged activity.

According to the case file, the 46-year-old is alleged to be a member of a ring that facilitated the exit of illegal immigrants from the country, for a fee. The indictment, according to information, implicates him in ten such cases.

The “incorruptible” of EL.AS. they proceeded to arrest him, when two refugees from Syria (siblings and among them a 12-year-old girl) tried to pass the boarding gate using fake passports, citizens of Estonia, and destined for Brussels.

What did the policeman apologize for?

In his statement, the 46-year-old accused – he served at the “Macedonia” airport – allegedly claimed that he was hit by a Syrian, a member of a migrant smuggling ring, in order to locate a police officer to cooperate with the ring. According to what he apologized for, he reportedly initially accepted the offer, but later regretted it and when he backed out it was already too late.

Regarding dozens of winning tickets (over 70,000 euros) found in his possession, he apologized that they were old, while for his previous involvement in a similar case, following a complaint – according to information – he stated that no charges were ever brought against him.

His claims did not convince the investigator and the prosecutor who unanimously decided on his temporary detention.

“We paid 8,000 euros”

Earlier, the 33-year-old Syros, who was arrested for the same case and accused of misdemeanors, apologized to the same investigator (for the minor, the case file was separated). He allegedly claimed to have paid 8,000 euros for him and his underage sister to ringleaders to cross the Evros River into Greece. It seems that the brothers were initially sent to Athens and then transferred to Thessaloniki where they were arrested before boarding the plane that would take them to their destination.