NEWS

In Brief

FAN DEATH

Cabbie remanded on suspicion of killing supporter in March brawl A taxi driver was remanded in custody yesterday on suspicion of being one of the men involved in the death of a Panathinaikos fan in March in Paeania, east of Athens. The unnamed man was remanded after being questioned by a magistrate investigating the death of 22-year-old Michalis Filopoulos during a mass brawl between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos hooligans. Three witnesses have identified the suspect but he denies taking part in the attack on Filopoulos and claims he was driving his taxi at the time of the brawl. Another suspect was released after testifying yesterday. CHILD RAPE? Man, 35, arrested for allegedly forcing himself on 8-year-old girl A 35-year-old man has been arrested in Petroupolis, western Athens, for the alleged rape and attempted murder of an 8-year-old girl, authorities said yesterday. The suspect is believed to have strangled the girl until she passed out in his home on Sunday before raping her. The man has been charged with attempted murder, rape and seduction of a minor. MONK CAUGHT Symi cleric linked to drug deals A 37-year-old monk from the Dodecanese island of Symi is due to face a prosecutor today on suspicion that he was part of a drug-smuggling ring. The holy man was allegedly found in possession of two grams of cannabis and three reefers. The monk allegedly told police that he used drugs and had recently bought 300 grams of heroin in Athens. Four other people have also been arrested in connection to alleged drug dealing, authorities on Symi said yesterday. Jealous boyfriend A 17-year-old girl was killed on the island of Milos late on Monday when she attempted to stop an armed man from attacking her female friend, aged 23. Police said the 23-year-old woman had split up with her partner earlier in the day but the ex-boyfriend, aged 31, entered the video store where she worked and threatened to kill her with a hunting rifle. The teenager attempted to stop the attacker when she was shot in the face at point blank range. The suspect fled the scene but was caught hours later by the coast guard. Family business A 57-year-old man and his 27-year-old son yesterday faced an Alexandroupolis prosecutor after local police discovered large quantities of cannabis in their home and linked them to a farm in Evros. Officers discovered more than 11 kilos of cannabis, in packages of different sizes, at the pair’s home. A total of 768 cannabis trees, some up to 1.80 meters tall, were uprooted from the farm in the area of Dikella. Spaniard killed A 22-year-old Spanish soldier was killed in Athens on Tuesday when the motorcycle he was driving crashed into a car. The unnamed soldier’s 21-year-old female colleague was injured in the accident. The pair had been serving in Kosovo but came to Greece for a vacation. The accident occurred on Monday afternoon on Kifissias Avenue in the northern suburb of Kifissia. It was not immediately clear what caused the vehicles to crash and traffic police are investigating the incident. Artifacts deal Culture Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis and his Swiss counterpart Pascal Couchepin agreed to cooperate on combating the illegal traffic of antiquities. Greek ministry sources said yesterday the agreement was signed in Bern and is of importance, as Switzerland is seen as being a crossroad for the trading of cultural artifacts. Church theft Police yesterday remanded in custody a man from Trizinia, near Epidaurus in the Peloponnese, for allegedly stealing more than 300 icons from churches. Authorities initially detained the suspect due to an outstanding arrest warrant but a search of the man’s home uncovered the stolen icons and 144 different church items, including crosses and oil lamps. The suspect told authorities he intended to sell the goods to antique stores in central Athens. Bank robbery Two armed men held up a branch of Eurobank in Pilaia, Thessaloniki, yesterday and made away 42,420 euros, police said. The two assailants made their getaway on two motorcycles parked outside the bank.

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