Prosecutor Seeks Special Court Trial for Ex-Deputy Minister in Tempi Tragedy Site Alteration Case

An anti-prosecutor at Greece's Supreme Court, Dimitris Mitroulias, has recommended that former Deputy Minister Christos Triantopoulos stand trial at a Special Court. The charges stem from the alleged alteration of the site of the Tempi train disaster, which claimed 57 lives. Mitroulias's proposal to the judicial council of the Areios Pagos (Supreme Court) suggests Triantopoulos should be tried for dereliction of duty.

According to sources, after reviewing the evidence, the prosecutor also recommended that four other non-political individuals be tried alongside Triantopoulos at the Special Court. If the judicial council accepts this proposal, it would mark the first Special Court convened for the Tempi tragedy. Additionally, the former regional governor of Thessaly, Kostas Agorastos, is also implicated in the dereliction of duty charge.

However, the prosecutor has proposed a different legal path for three other non-political individuals who were initially considered accomplices. Mitroulias is seeking their acquittal from the Special Court but recommends that their cases be transferred to the Larissa prosecutor's office. This move would allow for an investigation into whether they may be liable for other offenses unrelated to the dereliction of duty attributed to Triantopoulos.

In a previous stage of the investigation, eight defendants testified before an investigating judge. All denied the charges, and were released as dereliction of duty is a misdemeanor offense that does not warrant pre-trial detention. The Supreme Court Council holds the ultimate authority to decide on the referral of defendants to the Special Court or their acquittal. Their decision, expected within days, will determine if the first Special Court for the Tempi case convenes in the upcoming judicial year, starting September 16.