Local sources from Greece: ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, ΣΚΑΪ.
UK coverage: Euronews.
Thirteen crew members of a luxury yacht in Greece have appeared in court after allegedly causing a fire on the island of Hydra by launching fireworks. The crew, who were hired by a group of 17 Kazakh nationals, could face up to 20 years in prison and a large fine if found guilty. The fire burned down part of a pine forest before being extinguished by firefighters. Greece has recently increased penalties for arson, with fines up to €200,000 and potential prison sentences of up to 20 years. The country is currently battling wildfires on both its islands and mainland.
All 13 suspects, members of the crew of the luxury yacht, denied throwing the fireworks that caused the devastating fire in Hydra, which burned hundreds of hectares of forest on the island. They were charged with criminal offenses with possible intent. They all appeared before the judge today – dressed uniformly, wearing uniforms, sunglasses, white hats, and masks. They requested and were granted a deadline to present their defense on Wednesday. They will remain in custody until then. According to sources, all of them denied throwing the fireworks that caused the major fire that destroyed hundreds of hectares of forest on the island. From the investigation conducted by the Arson Crime Division, it emerged that just a few minutes before the fire broke out in the island’s only green lung, fireworks were launched from a boat off the coast of Hydra. The key testimony came from the captain of a passing boat, who testified at the Hydra Port Authority. Coast Guard personnel boarded the yacht and checked if the flares, which all boats are required to have in their equipment, were used, while also investigating if there was a permit for fireworks. The charges faced by the defendants are very serious following the tightening of the legal framework under the Ministry of Justice, George Floridis. The 13 members of the crew of the yacht allegedly involved in the fire in Hydra will face trial on Wednesday. The yacht had been rented by tourists from Kazakhstan who were on vacation in Greece and were released. The 13 crew members were arrested on Saturday by officers from the Arson Crimes Division of the Fire Department, which took over the investigation into the case and is currently ongoing. The captain of a nearby vessel has reported that fireworks were dropped from a boat in the area. The captain has provided a detailed statement to the Fire Department, which is expected to play a crucial role in the further investigation of the case. The judicial authorities have requested the temporary seizure of the boat from which the fireworks were ‘dropped’ in Hydra, causing the fire in a remote area of the island. Meanwhile, the process of seizing the yacht, which is currently located below the old Hellenikon airport, is underway.
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