The Appellate Deputy Prosecutor has recommended the replacement of the station master’s temporary detention. The relevant order is anticipated shortly, likely banning him from leaving the country. The station master’s release is imminent, as his maximum without trial detention period of 18 months expires on September 1, 2024. He has been held since his arrest on March 1, 2023, facing charges of disturbing the safety of fixed-track transportation, resulting in multiple deaths, injuries, and significant damage.
In addition to the felony charge, he faces misdemeanour charges of manslaughter by serial negligence, grievous bodily harm, and simple bodily harm by negligence. These charges stem from the tragic head-on collision of two trains in Tempe on February 28, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 57 passengers and injuries to 181 others.
The expiration of the 18-month detention period necessitates the replacement of his temporary detention with restrictive conditions before the deadline.
Notably, last March, nearly a year after his temporary imprisonment, the 63-year-old OSE inspector from Volos was released with three restrictive conditions, as per the Appeals Council of Larissa (Decision 37/2024).
New evidence regarding Triandopoulos in Parliament
Meanwhile, the Larissa Appellate Prosecutor’s Office has forwarded new evidence to Parliament through the Supreme Court. This additional evidence, drawn from the Appellate Deputy Prosecutor’s file, is to be correlated with the existing case file concerning the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Triandopoulos.
Previously, there were reports and publications about Triandopoulos’s presence at the scene of the railway tragedy alongside the Prime Minister. The new evidence includes testimonies indicating that Triandopoulos not only attended the site but also participated in an informal meeting on March 3, 2023. This meeting involved general secretaries, elected officials, service agents, and a representative of a private company, focusing on restoring train traffic in the area.
This additional evidence, deemed significant by the Larissa Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, has been sent to Parliament for correlation with the main case file. Parliament, the only body competent to judge political figures, will now assess this new information.
It is also recalled that, based on the case file, last week a prosecution was initiated for breach of duty against the general secretary of Civil Protection, the former regional governor, and two high-ranking officials from the Hellenic Police and Fire Service. They are likely to be summoned for an apology by the end of the month.