Greek authorities have arrested a 55-year-old foreign national in Thessaloniki who was wanted for arson and other serious crimes.

The Thessaloniki Police Department’s Division for Crime Investigation and Resolution coordinated the arrest. The man was subject to two warrants issued by the Athens Misdemeanor Court for a forest fire that occurred in 2005 in Mount Parnitha. A ruling from the President of the Athens Court of Appeals confirmed the warrants remain valid and mandated his detention until the final resolution of the charges.

In addition to the arson charges, the suspect faced multiple prior convictions. These include a fine for violations of Greece’s immigration laws, a six-month prison sentence for aggravated property damage, and a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence with a fine for forest arson, livestock theft and killing, and violations of laws regarding weapons possession and carrying by public forestry officers.

The arrest demonstrates Greek authorities’ continued enforcement of serious criminal and environmental protection laws, even for crimes committed years ago.