In Brief
DANGEROUS CROSSING
Two injured when car crashes into train as awareness campaign starts Two people were injured yesterday when a car rammed into the last carriage of the Corinth-Pyrgos train at a level crossing near Patras, the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) said. The driver of the car was seriously injured. A train passenger suffered slight injuries. The accident occurred at 2.30 p.m., just minutes after Transport Minister Michalis Liapis launched an advertising campaign to warn motorists about taking extra care at level crossings. More than 15 people died in accidents at level crossings last year. Liapis said that 63 percent of crashes take place at crossings that are guarded by barriers. ALEX CASE Fifth schoolboy denies involvement The last of five schoolboys accused of killing 11-year-old Alex Meshivili in Veria, northern Greece, last year testified before a magistrate in Thessaloniki yesterday and denied any part in the incident that allegedly led to the child’s death. The unnamed 13-year-old’s testimony matched that of his younger brother, aged 12, who was questioned by prosecutor Michalakis Georgiou on Friday. Georgiou is expected to question the five boys again in a few days. Their parents are also due to be questioned soon. Electricity charges The nighttime electricity rate for households will increase by 5 percent from April 1, the Public Power Corporation (PPC) said yesterday. For customers who have paid the fee to sign up for the service, the cut-price rate applies between 3.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. and 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. from November to April, and between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. from May to October. PPC said that new customers would also be charged 15 percent more from April 1 to be connected to the electricity grid. Weapons haul Three men – two Greek nationals and an Albanian – were arrested yesterday close to Ioannina on the Greek-Albanian border after police found in their possession dozens of military weapons stolen from Albanian army barracks. Police stopped the men to inspect their truck when they discovered some of the firearms hidden in the vehicle. A further inspection of two homes belonging to the Greek nationals, aged 54 and 58, uncovered a total of 42 military weapons, 17 handguns, five hunting rifles and sticks of dynamite. Illegal antiquities Three people have been arrested in Athens and Thebes, central Greece, on suspicion of trading in illegal antiquities, police said yesterday. A 61-year-old woman and 35-year-old man were arrested in Athens after allegedly trying to sell 17 artifacts to an undercover officer. A 59-year-old man was taken into custody in Thebes after police found a number of old firearms and undeclared antiquities in his possession.
