It started before the Court of Misdemeanors and will continue on March 13 trial in the second degree for the flood in Pen in November 2017 which claimed 25 human lives.

In the case they are tried for specific acts eight defendants condemned to first grade but also six of the acquittedincluding the then regional governor Rena Dourofollowing an appeal filed by the Prosecutor’s Office.

Today’s trial was spent formulating objections submitted by the defendants who are back in the dock after the prosecutor’s appeal. The advocates of those acquitted in the first instance formulate the position that the prosecution’s appeal with regard to the six acquittals was submitted out of time, but also without the reasoning of the decision of the Three-member Misdemeanor Court for the acquittal of the accused being contradicted by the prosecuting officer making the appeal.

According to the position expressed by Mrs. Douro, the accused was found not guilty with the decision announced on June 16, 2022, the day on which, according to the defense, the 10-day deadline for the Prosecutor’s appeal would start to “run” and not on June 23, 2022, when the trial ended with the sentencing. The defense considers that the decision for the acquitted was enforceable from the day the acquittal was announced and therefore the deadline for the appeal expired on June 27. They also consider that the Prosecutor’s Office had access to the draft minutes and that if they wanted to turn against the discharge they could have them at their disposal. In addition, the advocates claim that the Prosecutor’s appeal lacks justification

The court also heard today the prosecutor’s proposal on the objections, which asked that they be rejected and that the appeal against the acquitted be considered admissible. According to the proposal, the Prosecutor’s Office gained access to the case file at the conclusion of the trial, while deciding that the appeal is thorough and justified.

At the next meeting, the court is expected to rule on the objections.

It should be noted that the trial court had found eight of the 21 defendants guilty of the offenses of causing flooding, manslaughter and negligent bodily harm by omission who were sentenced to prison terms of 4 to 6 years, with a suspensive effect on appeal.

These are two deputy regional governors, at the time in question, the then mayor of Mandra and five, at the time, officials of the Urban Planning and Stream Policing Service.

It had also acquitted 13 accused. Of these, Mrs. Dourou as well as five executives from the Forestry Department and Urban Planning are before the Court of Appeal.

As for Rena Dourothe court declared her unanimously innocent for the offense of dereliction of duty and by a majority vote of two to one, not guilty of the acts of negligent flooding, manslaughter and negligent bodily harm.

The appeal of the Prosecutor who today brought the former regional governor back to court, concerns the majority decision which ruled that Mrs. Dourou is not responsible as she had transferred-assigned the disputed responsibilities to the two convicted vice-regional governors. The opinion of the minority was that the regional governor has responsibility as she exercises supervision – and consequently is criminally responsible – which is not removed by the transfer of powers.