The months-long investigation uncovered that:

  • The Egyptian authorities provided Greek officials with a detailed list identifying members of the trafficking ring, along with their respective roles. The nine individuals arrested were not on this list.
  • Additional findings from Egyptian investigations further confirmed that the nine were not part of the trafficking network.
  • Egypt’s top official for combating migrant smuggling formally stated to the Egyptian Prosecutor’s Office that the nine were victims, not traffickers, just like the other survivors of the shipwreck.

The Egyptian official stressed that the nine had paid sums ranging between 140,000 and 160,000 Egyptian pounds (€2,680–€3,065) for the voyage, highlighting their status as passengers rather than perpetrators.

A year of pretrial detention

Despite the evidence provided by Egyptian authorities, the nine Egyptian men were held in pretrial detention for nearly a year, facing potential sentences of hundreds of years. Their legal ordeal came to an end when a court in Kalamata ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to hear their case, leading to their release.

The full investigation can be read on wearesolomon.com.

______________________________________________

Are you seeking news from Greece presented from a progressive, non-mainstream perspective? Subscribe monthly or annually to support TPP International in delivering independent reporting in English. Don’t let Greek progressive voices fade.

Make sure to reference “TPP International” and your order number as the reason for payment.