Greek prosecutor: Ex-lawmakers no risk

ATHENS, Greece — A prosecutor Monday recommended that all former lawmakers of Greece’s extreme-right Golden Dawn party who have been sentenced to prison for leading or participating in a criminal organization should be allowed to remain free until their appeal has been heard.

Prosecutor Adamantia Economou argued that none of the former lawmakers was a flight risk or at risk of reoffending, and said most had a clean record until their recent conviction.

“The immediate execution of the sentences will cause irreparable damage, as the procedure to the appeals court will be a long one,” the prosecutor said. “They have all the conditions for their sentences to be suspended with conditions. The accused have not tried to avoid their arrest.”

After summations by defense lawyers, the court ordered a break in proceedings until today. A decision on whether the sentences will be suspended is to be made by the panel of judges trying the case, potentially today.

The lengthy sentencing procedure caps a marathon, politically charged five-year trial that involved 68 defendants and dozens of lawyers and encompassed four cases, including the 2013 fatal stabbing of left-wing Greek rap singer Pavlos Fyssas and physical attacks on Egyptian fishermen and left-wing activists.

Party leader Nikos Michaloliakos and another five leading former lawmakers received 13-year prison sentences last week after being convicted of running the party like a criminal organization. A dozen others received lesser sentences.