Prosecutors on spot over Xeros leave
The two prosecutors who sat on the councils that granted prison furloughs to November 17 convict Christodoulos Xeros, who absconded during a nine-day leave earlier this month, are to face disciplinary action after a probe suggested that the officials displayed gross negligence.
The decision was taken by Supreme Court prosecutor Efterpi Koutzamani after an investigation carried out by Piraeus prosecutor Evangelos Zacharis found that Xeros received lenient treatment despite the fact that he had not expressed remorse for his actions, had met regularly with Korydallos inmates from another guerrilla organization, Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire, and set fire to his cell on one occasion.
The two prosecutors face temporary suspension from their duties, as do 17 employees of Korydallos who are under scrutiny as part of a broader probe into the treatment received by Xeros while he was at the prison.
A disciplinary council is to make the final decision regarding the prosecutors’ fate.
The 55-year-old, who had been serving multiple life sentences for his part in a series of deadly attacks by N17, appeared in a video posted online last week pledging a return to terrorism.
His disappearance prompted Greek authorities to herald a review of regulations governing the issuing of furloughs for those convicted of terrorism and other serious crimes after it emerged that the 55-year-old had been granted seven furloughs since 2011.
Amid fears of a high-level terrorist attack, the police have intensified a search for the convict, raiding the homes of his relatives and hangouts linked to anarchist and far-leftist groups for clues as to his possible whereabouts.
