In Brief
MP RELEASED
Independent Mantouvalos, linked to trial-fixing, to post 70,000-euro bail An appeals court yesterday set a 70,000-euro bail payment for the release of independent MP Petros Mantouvalos who has been charged in connection with an alleged trial-fixing ring. The deputy has been ordered not to leave the country following his release. Meanwhile, former priest Iakovos Yiossakis, who was released last month after 22 months in jail where he was awaiting trial for alleged links with trial fixing, yesterday condemned the decision to revoke his release as «unprecedented and scandalous.» FAST ROBBERS Arrested pair who mugged delivery drivers also stole food, police say Police said yesterday that they have arrested two men suspected of robbing at least four fast-food delivery drivers in Athens of their takings and food. A third man, 23 years old, is also being sought, police said. The pair, aged 25 and 32, were arrested on Tuesday morning. They had been riding a motorcycle without license plates. Officers found one of the unnamed suspects to be in possession of an air gun and 22 pellets. Police said that the 32-year-old had worked as a delivery driver for a day earlier this month but disappeared without giving his boss the 370 euros he had received from customers that night. PENSIONER CONNED Man, 75, tricked out of 10,800 euros A 75-year-old man from Vrilissia reported to police yesterday that he had been conned by a man who allegedly took 10,800 euros from the pensioner. The victim said he was taking a walk when a man he did not recognize approached him and claimed that the 75-year-old’s son owed him 6,000 euros. After a discussion, the pensioner said he was convinced by the man’s story and the two went to a bank where the elder man withdrew 10,800 euros, which the suspect grabbed and ran off. Deadly chase Two illegal immigrants were killed late on Wednesday and three others were injured when their car crashed trying to avoid a police checkpoint near the northern town of Kavala, police said yesterday. Six migrants, identified as being from Asia and Africa, were traveling in a car which slammed into a central partition. Police said that a seventh man, the driver, ran away from the crash site. Smash and grab Two armed men threatened staff at the Divani Apollon Hotel in Vouliagmeni, southern Athens, early yesterday before using a sledgehammer to break into the jewelry shop that is on the premises. Officers said the value of the items stolen was not immediately clear. The two men drove off in a car and are being sought by police. Tanker saved An oil tanker which foundered early yesterday morning on the islet of Petrokaravo in the Saronic Gulf, between Aegina and Poros had been extricated by late in the afternoon. The eight Greek sailors who had been aboard the Aghia Zoni were all unharmed and there were no reports of any fuel spillage. The tanker, which had been en route to Crete from the Corinth Canal with 1,450 tons of oil products, was saved following the transfer of 400 tons of oil to another tanker. Anarchists own up Self-styled anarchist group Revolutionary Liberation Action claimed responsibility yesterday for a series of arson attacks on three banks and the offices of New Democracy in Patissia, central Athens, earlier in the day. Branches of Eurobank, National Bank and Geniki Bank were damaged in separate attacks across Athens in firebombings using cooking gas canisters. No one was hurt in the incidents which all took place around 3 a.m. The group said that the attacks were made in support of three convicted anarchists who have launched a hunger strike. Fans sentenced A Thessaloniki court handed seven soccer fans 12- to 18-month suspended sentences for attacking a refereeing official during a soccer game in 2002. The PAOK fans were judged to have beaten up Spyros Papadakos in a game against Olympiakos in Thessaloniki. The court also ruled that the seven men are not allowed to attend a match between the same two opponents for a year. Another defendant who was on trial for similar charges was found innocent after the court decided that he was not connected to the violence.
