Kostaris also given furlough
Another convicted member of the November 17 terrorist group was regularly granted furlough, including to attend IT classes in Athens, Kathimerini has learned. Iraklis Kostaris was given normal furlough and study leave to attend lessons at a technical college, it emerged. He was also part of a team of 50 inmates responsible for making and delivering bread to hospitals and prisons around the country. Since the disappearance of fellow N17 member Christodoulos Xeros, Kostaris has been moved back to Korydallos Prison and his furlough canceled. Xeros, who is serving six consecutive life sentences plus an additional 25 years in prison for his role in six assassinations as well as other terrorist activities, has been on the run since January 17. Kostaris is serving a life sentence for his role in the terrorist organization.
Trial interrupted.
The trial of two men charged with the murder of Pakistani national Luqman Shahzad in January, 2013, in Petralona, central Athens, was suspended yesterday after members of anti-fascist organizations attacked the suspects in the courtroom. The trial was postponed to January 31 as the defendants’ legal teams left the premises in protest. Prosecutors charge that the killing was racially motivated, while both suspects have denied ties to Golden Dawn.
Baby ring.
Police in Magnisia, central Greece, yesterday arrested seven suspected members of an illegal adoption ring. The suspects, two Greeks and five Bulgarian nationals, were detained after police officers found out that members of the racket were allegedly planning to sell an 11-day-old Bulgarian baby to a Greek couple. According to early reports, one of the Greek suspects is a lawyer, while the other is a former coast guard officer.
Brother pimp.
An 18-year-old Roma man was arrested in Kavala, eastern Macedonia, yesterday on suspicion of acting as a pimp for his 17year-old sister. The teenager was taken into custody after he arranged a meeting between an undercover policeman posing as a potential customer and his sister. The 18-year-old accepted a payment of 1,100 euros in return for letting his sister stay with the would-be client for two months. According to police, the 17-year-old had accepted the arrangement as well.
Keeping the faith.
Manolis Karamolegos, a baked goods company owner who was kidnapped on Tuesday but managed to convince one his abductors – a Moldovan national who allegedly led the criminal ring – to release him less than 24 hours later, said that his faith had enabled him to survive the ordeal.