Manioudakis family: Despite criminal charges, no disciplinary action against police officers involved in death
The family criticised the administrative response, noting that despite the criminal charges, there has been no significant progress in the disciplinary investigation. They shared that, according to a recent letter from the Police Directorate of Crete, the Sworn Administrative Examination was adjourned in May 2024 due to the lack of a criminal case file, which prevented the investigation from moving forward. The family further noted that police regulations allow disciplinary measures such as placing the officers on standby but stressed that no such steps have been taken.
The Manioudakis family called the delays and justifications “pretexts and sophistry” and pointed out that while the law mandates a maximum of four months for completing a disciplinary investigation, more than 13 months have passed since Kostis’ death, with the case file still unresolved.
They also stated that all relevant witnesses and documents, including forensic reports, had already been presented during the pretrial, making the lack of action inexcusable. They accused the authorities of attempting to cover up the incident and allowing the case to stagnate.
The family’s statement concluded by calling for the immediate dismissal of the officers involved and for their criminal prosecution to proceed without delay. They vowed to continue their fight for justice, both through national and international bodies, including the Ombudsman and the UN Commission Against Torture, which is currently visiting Greece.
“The society of Chania has drawn its conclusions, not only regarding the unexplained death of Kostis Manioudakis but also about the ongoing cover-up. We will not stop until justice is served,” the statement said.
The family has requested media outlets to publish and share their statement.
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