In Briefs
FAMILY SHOOTING
Man kills brother-in-law in Athens to avenge his son’s recent death A 63-year-old man turned himself in to police in Acharnes, northern Athens, yesterday after shooting dead one of his brothers-in-law and attempting to kill the other. The unnamed 63-year-old went to the building site where the men were working and opened fire. He told police later that he shot at the two brothers because they allegedly bought the motorcycle on which his son was killed three months ago and held them responsible for the youth’s death. The man who was killed in yesterday’s shooting was not named but police said he was 63 years old as well. His brother, who survived unscathed, said that the two men had not bought the motorcycle in question. KIDNAPPING OVER 23-year-old released by captors after police appear at ransom spot A 23-year-old woman who was abducted in Kypseli, near central Athens, last Friday was released by her captors yesterday after police arrested one kidnapper. Officers caught a 34-year-old man but are looking for another three suspects, a 32-year-old Turk, a 37-year-old Bulgarian and an unidentified man. The four suspects allegedly kidnapped the woman, an Albanian national, outside her home and took her to a hideout where they raped her and threatened to force her into prostitution. The abductors demanded 5,000 euros in ransom from the woman’s employer. Her boss contacted the police and officers arrested the 34-year-old early Wednesday at the spot where he had arranged to meet the woman’s boss to pick up the money. The victim recognized two of the three men in pictures supplied by the police. PHONE TAPPING Victim’s family takes legal action The family of Costas Tsalikidis, the Vodafone software engineer who committed suicide in March 2005, revealed yesterday that they intend to take legal action against the people they believe were responsible for murdering the 39-year-old. Tsalikidis was a key figure in the phone-tapping operation that began in the summer of 2004 and targeted senior government figures. A prosecutor’s investigation into Tsalikidis’s death concluded in 2006 that it was related to the phone-tapping scandal but was a suicide. The family’s lawyer said that the legal action would show that evidence was destroyed and there has been a cover-up. The family has also appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. Woman drowns A woman, aged about 25, drowned yesterday off the eastern Aegean island of Samos when the boat she was traveling in along with 12 illegal immigrants sank in rough seas, according to the Merchant Marine Ministry. The coast guard launched a search operation, including the use of a Super Puma helicopter, for the illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka after the speedboat in which they attempted to sneak into Greece sunk off the Karlovaso area. Ten men and two children were saved in the rescue operation. Sea traffic Nearly 80,000 passengers left the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrion on the first day of August as the holiday season enters its peak period, according to figures provided by the Merchant Marine Ministry yesterday. A total of 204 ferries left the three ports, taking with them 11,275 cars. Since the start of the summer period, 5.8 million passengers have traveled from the three ports to an Aegean island. Shark meat The Hellenic Food Authority (EFET) announced yesterday the recall of some 22 tons of blue shark meat imported to Greece from Japan due to the high levels of mercury it contained. The meat was imported into Greece by Spanish company Inverpesca Fish. Additionally, EFET recalled a batch of Ion’s Break chocolate bar for not enclosing on its wrapper that it contains almonds, which can cause an allergic reaction. Murder solved Police said yesterday that a known underworld figure who is already in custody was the man who allegedly shot dead a 38-year-old shopkeeper in Vyronas, eastern Athens, last August. The suspect was not named but police said he is a 35-year-old man who was arrested last November in connection to other alleged crimes, including blackmail, grievous bodily harm, illegal use of weapons and attempted murder.
