The deputy minister stated that in the Republic, the accused in the defense and his lawyers have rights to determine their line of defense, as the law and the Constitution require. We must, said Mr. Economou, respect our legal culture. Besides, the same procedural rules applied during the days of the SYRIZA government and during the days of the current government.
“There was no postponement at the initiative or fault of the service. On the contrary, as far as the actions of the service are concerned, the actions were manifested immediately and quickly”, said the Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection, Lefteris Oikonomou, in response to a relevant topical question of the SYRIZA Member of Parliament, Sias Anagnostopoulos.
The deputy minister stated that in the Republic, the accused in the defense and his lawyers have rights to determine their line of defense, as the law and the Constitution require. We must, said Mr. Economou, respect our legal culture. Besides, the same procedural rules applied during the days of the SYRIZA government and during the days of the current government.
He rejected the allegations of alleged intentional delay on the part of the Greek Police. In particular, he stated that the case was entered on March 19, 2019 at the secretariat of the disciplinary board and its trial was set for June 24 of the same year. However, it was decided to postpone it due to the obstruction of the defense counsel of six of the nine arrested policemen. On September 27, 2019, the trial of the case was scheduled, but due to force majeure on the faces of two of the total of the arrested police officers, the council decided to postpone it again, so that they have the opportunity to exercise their defense rights. On February 21, 2020, the trial of the case was rescheduled, however, following a related request by the defense to postpone the trial in order to attend an essential witness, a forensic technical consultant, the council again decided to postpone and at the same time summon two essential forensic witnesses. Then, due to the pandemic and the measures, they did not allow the determination of a safe date within 2020. On December 15, 2021, a disciplinary hearing of the case was set again, but it was postponed for two reasons: First, due to the obstruction of the lawyers of the fallen police officers , but also because the criminal part of the said case was in full progress, the completion of the trial of which was expected in February 2022. The last postponement was given on September 19, 2022 following a new request from the defense side of the police officers, in order to provide additional evidence evidence, audio-visual material and other documents that were brought up during the criminal hearing. Then, on the initiative of the services of the Hellenic Republic of Greece, an express hearing was set for October 19, 2022.
The deputy minister pointed out that the disciplinary control process by the competent collective bodies of the body is related and concurrent with the criminal trial of the case. And it cannot be cut off as this could lead to contradictory decisions being issued.
Mr. Economou pointed out that the political leadership of the ministry in close cooperation with the physical leadership of the Hellenic Police plan and develop all the necessary initiatives in the direction of providing a modern training program, which contributes decisively, so that the existing and new officers of the EL.AS to respond adequately to the modern needs of society. In this direction, both at the School of Officers of the Greek Police and at the School of Constables of the Hellenic Police, from August 13, 2021, a special thematic section “Constitutional law, human rights, rights of members of the LGBTI community” will be included in the curriculum. Also, in both schools, lectures, speeches by the Ombudsman or his assistant, in the special thematic section “Communities of LGBTI people” are held, among other things.
SYRIZA MP Sia Anagnostopoulou pointed out: “The democratic order is respected when acts of arbitrariness and violence, especially by the Police, are punished.” We have, he said, constant postponements, postponements, postponements! We have a new man who was lynched. So, if we want democracy in this country with its content, that means no impunity for the people who have been called to practice, protect the law, defend the law, protect the citizens and bring them to justice for criminal acts. Not to contribute to their murder and lynching.”
RES-EMP
Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
As a seasoned news journalist, I bring a wealth of experience to the field. I’ve worked with world-renowned news organizations, honing my skills as a writer and reporter. Currently, I write for the sports section at News Bulletin 247, where I bring a unique perspective to every story.
