By Yannis Anifantis

Within the day, the study of the criminal case file for the train accident in Tempi is expected to begin by the members of the parliament’s investigative committee, in order to draw up their findings.

The parliamentarians will have the opportunity to study the relevant material in a specially designed hall of the parliament, to take notes, however they will not be able to take a copy or take a photo.

The case file sent yesterday to the Parliament by the Larissa prosecutor’s office consists of approximately 1,000 pages and includes:

  1. Petitioner’s reports
  2. Reports from the examination of witnesses and findings of the Committee of Experts
  3. Findings of expert reports
  4. The conclusion of the Committee of Experts on the train accident in Tempe

The parties, however, have until March 8 to submit their findings, as a new meeting has been scheduled for the 11th of the month, with the aim of finding a common ground in submitting a single conclusion.

Despite the initial information, however, no extension will ultimately be given to the work of the committee, as the volume of the case file was not deemed sufficient to justify such a thing.

“Given that the volume of material sent by the Larissa appeals prosecutor’s office is completely manageable, the process of drawing up findings by the investigative committee continues within the framework that has been set,” the commission’s presidency says in a statement, emphasizing:

“In view of ensuring the secrecy of the criminal proceedings in Larissa, which is at the stage of the main interrogation, the members of the commission from today will have the possibility every day (Monday – Friday) from 09:00 in the morning to 21:00 evening as well as on Saturday from 09:00 in the morning to 15:00 to visit the Office of the special secretary of the Parliament in order to obtain information for the drawing up of the findings”.

Reactions of the opposition

“The case file came half-finished, there are no apologies from the accused and documents presented by the witnesses,” argued in his statement in the parliament’s peristyle Vasilis Kokkalis.

The SYRIZA MP argued that there is a need to summon essential witnesses and adds that “it emerges from the testimonies of TRAINOSE executives that Kostas Karamanlis was informed about the lack of safety of the railways”.

A new meeting of the examination committee was requested on behalf of the KKE by Mr. Karathanasopoulos.