Court statement to the chairman of the examining committee for “the Tempe crime investigation” D. Markopoulos was sent by the wife and three daughters of the deceased driver of the passenger train of the Tempe accident in which they speak, among other things, of the following: “the Rapporteur, from the side of the ruling party, Member of Parliament, Mr. unsigned article of the previous day, which, quite coincidentally, was published one day before the scheduled testimony of the President of RAS, consciously tried to blame the dead train driver, wife of the first of us and father of the second and third and fourth of us, using medical documents and trying to create impressions about the driver’s medical problems which allegedly made him unfit for work!”.

In particular, they express their strong protest against the “violation of medical confidentiality and especially the alteration of the content of medical documents” and call for a halt to “every corresponding derogatory act regarding our deceased relative, especially when their words are not accompanied by corresponding evidence”.

The extrajudicial statement reads as follows:

“BEFORE ANY COMPETENT COURT AND AUTHORITY

COURT STATEMENT

1) Agnis Bali of Christos and Eugenia, wife of Georgios Koutsoumbas, resident of Amaliados, 29 Themistokleous Street, VAT number 300154717, D.O.Y.: Amaliados

2) Of Athanasia Koutsoumbas of Georgios and Agnes, daughter of Georgios Koutsoumbas, resident of Amaliados, 29 Themistokleous Street, VAT number 163778938, D.O.Y.: D’ Thessaloniki

3) Of Christina Koutsoumba of Georgios and Agnes, daughter of Georgios Koutsoumbas, resident of Amaliados, 29 Themistokleous Street, VAT number 165069214, D.O.Y.: A’ Thessaloniki.

4) Of Ioanna Koutsoumba, son of Georgios and Agnes, daughter of Georgios Koutsoumbas, resident of Amaliados, 29 Themistokleous Street, VAT number 177132223, D.O.Y.: Amaliados.

TO

The President of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee for the investigation of the fatal accident in Tempi, Member of Parliament, Mr. Dimitrios Markopoulos.

Communicated: To Mr. Members of Parliament, members of the Upper Committee.

As you know, on February 28, 2023 and at around 23:22 near the settlement of Evangelismos Tempo Larisa, a severe head-on collision took place between the passenger train Intercity 62 of the HellenicTrain company and a commercial train, with the tragic result of the instant death -among many passengers – and passenger train driver, husband of the first of us and father of the second, third and fourth of us.

The criminal case file is at the stage of the main investigation and in the middle of the collection of the evidentiary material, which will shed light on all the causes, due to which this fatal accident occurred.

On the occasion of this fatal accident, your Committee undertook the investigation and identification of the responsibilities of specific persons for their actions and omissions.

Unfortunately, to our regret, but also with great surprise, we witnessed, yesterday, 16/1/2024, a shameful event that insulted us to an incredible degree.

Specifically, the Rapporteur, from the side of the ruling party, Member of Parliament, Mr. Lazaros Tsavdaridis, on the occasion of an unsigned article of the previous day, which, quite by chance, was published one day before the scheduled testimony of the President of RAS, consciously tried to blame the dead train driver, husband of the first of us and father of the second and third and fourth of us, using medical documents and trying to create impressions about the driver’s medical problems which allegedly made him unfit for work!

In violation of the Criminal Code and the provisions on medical confidentiality, the above Member of Parliament and unfortunately also his other colleagues, acting in absolute “connivance” with the “unknown” author of the above article, implied that the train driver, possibly, was not able to perform his duties, it was not yet said that he might be a danger to the safety of the passengers! And while specific medical documents from his medical file were invoked and used and which are also evidentiary documents of the investigative file, they “forgot” to mention publicly that in these documents our father and husband was DEEMED ABSOLUTELY FIT, being in “excellent condition “, as they accurately state, absolutely not functional for the position of train driver. In fact, these documents have been issued by doctors who are recognized and fully certified by RAS. They “forgot” to mention that train drivers in particular are examined every year by a number of doctors and then the relevant medical opinions and certifications are issued as to whether or not they are considered suitable for work.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that an attempt is made to tarnish the memory of our dead relative. However, it is the first time that this is taking place in order to serve political games and to cover the political and mainly criminal responsibilities of specific persons. We make it clear to you that we are not willing to get involved in this game.

Our family is grieving the unjust loss of a loved one and you, with your sadistic ways, are only causing us more pain. And the main thing: Our husband and father is not here to answer you by looking you in the eye, because of actions and omissions of specific persons.

However, his absence and the unfair way he was lost along with so many other victims, creates a huge debt for us: To fight for his memory which some did not respect.

So let those who so easily blame him ask themselves and say publicly:

1. Is there even a medical document by which he is deemed unfit to perform his duties?

2. Was the strictest medical control procedure provided for by the regulations followed, and indeed on an annual basis?

3. Does anyone think that medical documents and opinions are fake? Let him say it clearly so that we can answer him through Justice.

4. Are there any witnesses who could, in addition to the medical documents that already prove it, demonstrate the state of his health and the excellent and meticulous performance of his duties, for 4 decades? Why are you avoiding Mr. Genidounia’s testimony in front of you so that he can be asked about the medical control procedures that are foreseen but also about the real causes of the accident that you are allegedly investigating?

The souls of the people who left because someone didn’t make sure the remote control worked, the traffic lights worked, the proper infrastructure was in place, and the 717 contract was properly executed, are asking for vindication, not reproach. And we, their relatives, are people with families who continue to live their drama, without any help from the State and not pawns of a political chessboard, as some wish to make us.

Fortunately for us, our husband and father’s ability to perform his duties for 4 decades is proven by medical documents you have and witnesses you fraudulently do not call.

Unfortunately for some, their political inadequacy is demonstrated by their actions, omissions and schemes. They can throw the ball of investigation away and easily create smoke where there is none to hide their criminal responsibilities, completely oblivious to the pain their actions continue to cause, believing they have such “political background” and “power ” so as to trample on personalities of people who have passed away and cannot answer them.

For our part, we endured the pain caused by the unjust death of our husband and father, we mourned our man. Do you think we will not tolerate and respond to the political indecency and immorality of some? You are wrong.

The political and moral inadequacy of some cannot abrogate our right to mourn our own person. We only ask one thing: To respect his memory and tell the truth.

For plunging us into despair and grief, just a few months after the death of our beloved husband and father.

Because we are always prepared to address every competent Authority, in order for the obvious to take place, namely the restoration of his memory.

FOR THESE REASONS

And with the express reservation of all our legal rights

We strongly protest the above behavior of the aforementioned Member of Parliament and those who participated in the violation of medical confidentiality and especially in the alteration of the content of medical documents and we call on them to cease from now on any corresponding derogatory act regarding our deceased relative, especially when their words are not accompanied by corresponding evidence.

We request the reading of our present out-of-court declaration at the meeting of the Committee chaired by you and its members.

Competent Judicial Bailiff is ordered to serve this notice on the person to whom it is addressed, for his knowledge and for the legal consequences, copying the whole of this notice in the service report he will draw up.

Athens, 17/1/2024

The out-of-court declarants through their attorney-at-law”.