A 62-year-old man accused of causing last week’s wildfire in Paiania, east of Athens, has been sent to prison following his testimony before an investigating judge.
The fire broke out last Tuesday near a service road of the Attiki Odos highway, in the district of Palaiopanagia. Video evidence from that day reportedly shows the suspect arriving on a mountain bike, setting fire to the area with a lighter, and later disposing of his backpack in a rubbish bin.
Despite the footage, the man denied the felony charge of arson. He claimed he lives nearby and passes through the area daily on his way to his son’s house.
“I did not set the fires,” he reportedly told the court. Explaining why he threw his backpack into the bin, he said it contained figs and grapes he had picked, and he feared being accused of theft.
