Two senior staff members of the Violanta cookie factory in Trikala have appeared before an investigating magistrate as part of the ongoing criminal inquiry into the deadly explosion that claimed the lives of five female workers earlier this year.
The case, which has already led to the arrest and detention of the factory’s owner, has widened and now includes additional members of the company’s management.
Charges against production manager
Prosecutors in late March charged the factory’s production manager, citing possible intent in connection with the explosion, along with multiple counts of negligent homicide and bodily harm.
He appeared before the magistrate and requested additional time to prepare his defense. The request was granted, and his testimony has been postponed until April 27. He was not detained and appeared voluntarily following a summons.
Management under scrutiny
The company’s general manager is also expected to appear before the magistrate, as authorities continue to examine the role of senior staff in the events leading up to the explosion.
The owner of the Violanta factory also appeared at the Trikala courthouse to provide a supplementary statement related to earlier charges, including multiple counts of negligent homicide and bodily harm, filed at a misdemeanor level. The process was postponed after he indicated he was not prepared to testify. He has since returned to detention in Trikala, and a new date for his appearance is expected to be set.
Testimonies at the center of the case
The latest developments follow witness statements from employees, who told investigators that both executives were aware of a strong gas odor at the facility but did not take action.
Those accounts are now central to the investigation, which is increasingly focused on what was known inside the factory in the months leading up to the explosion.
A case still unfolding
The edeadly blast at the Trikala factory, followed by a fire, killed five women working the night shift and prompted a nationwide debate in Greece over industrial safety and oversight.
As more individuals are called to testify, the investigation is increasingly focused not only on how the explosion occurred, but also on what was known beforehand — and whether anything could have been done to prevent it.
The legal process remains ongoing, with multiple testimonies and court appearances expected in the coming weeks.
