Three men who had been held in an Athens prison in connection with the deadly incident in Vorizia, Crete, have been released following a decision by the Council of Misdemeanors, with a court order preventing them from approaching the village.
The three men are relatives of Fanouris Kargakis, who was killed in the bloodshed that followed a bombing in the village. They had been accused of being moral instigators in the case involving the explosive device that triggered the deadly confrontation.
According to reports, the three men were already in prison at the time on separate cases related to livestock theft.
The investigation into their involvement was linked to the fact that 39-year-old Fanouris Kargakis had visited them at the Nea Alikarnassos prison on the morning of the explosion. Authorities considered that visit as part of the basis for the accusations against them.
The three men were recently brought before an investigating magistrate in Heraklion for additional testimony. However, according to the case file, no sufficient evidence emerged to establish their guilt.
The Council of Misdemeanors met in recent days and ruled that the conditions required for their continued pretrial detention were not met, lifting their detention order in relation to the livestock theft cases.
Strict restrictions imposed
The lawyer representing the three relatives, Theonymfi Berki, referred to the restrictions imposed following their release.
Among the conditions is a ban preventing them from approaching Vorizia under any circumstances.
Shortly before midnight, a major police operation was carried out at Heraklion Airport following the arrival of the three men from Athens.
According to police sources, the three are members of the same family and have been placed under strict restrictions prohibiting them from approaching their place of residence and family origin.
