A new “twist” emerged on Monday in the case of a 25-year-old Patras man accused of setting a fire in a field outside the western Greece port city last week – a charge he has adamantly denied – as another 21-year-old was arrested after giving testimony aimed to clear the former.
A massive and multi-pronged wildfire front surrounded Patras from the west and southwest last week, burning brushland, crops, forestland as well as homes and businesses before being contained.
According to reports, the second man arrived at the courthouse on Monday to give testimony in the case related to the wildfire that erupted at the Girokomio location, given that he was allegedly the driver of a motorbike carrying the 25-year-old to the site where he was later arrested.
Later media reports claim the man provided contradictory testimony, resulting in a relevant prosecutor issuing a warrant for his arrest.
The first man arrested has repeatedly claimed that he arrived at the field in order to aid fire-fighting efforts.
A day earlier, on Sunday, two men, aged 19 and 27, were ordered remanded in connection with a wildfire that tore through the Sychaina area west of Patras.
The pair face multiple charges of arson, including setting fires on both forested and non-forested land, on repeated occasions, and acting in collaboration.
