In Brief
Pollution warning
EC tells gov’t to conform to directives or face court The European Commission yesterday warned Greece to conform to European legislation aimed at curbing pollution of the air, ground and water or face the risk of being indicted to the European Court of Justice two months from now. As an EU member state, Greece was supposed to have adopted the legislation in question in 2008. The Commission issued a second appeal yesterday to Greece, as well as Belgium and the Czech Republic, to adhere to EU laws governing the classification, labeling and packaging of chemicals. All three member states have been given two months to conform or to face the risk of legal action. Glyfada raid Fleeing robbers shoot at police Police in the southern coastal suburb of Glyfada yesterday were seeking three robbers who held up a bank on busy Vouliagmenis Avenue and opened fire on police officers as they were fleeing the scene. No one was injured in the shooting, according to police, who said they found the motorcycles on which the perpetrators fled abandoned a short distance from the scene of the crime. Doukissa dies Popular singer Doukissa Fotara, commonly known as Doukissa, died yesterday at the age of 69 after a 17-year battle with cancer. Over the course of her long career, Doukissa performed songs by many established composers, such as Vassilis Tsitsanis, and became known for her distinctive voice. Hania mugging A 60-year-old jewelry salesman was in a serious condition in a Hania hospital yesterday after being shot twice in the stomach during a mugging involving two unidentified men who ambushed him outside his home in the Cretan port late on Wednesday. The salesman was jumped outside his home by the pair who tried to grab two cases containing jewelry he was carrying. When the 60-year-old tried to resist, one of them shot him twice. The victim’s girlfriend and mother, who had been inside house at the time, alerted the police. The man was transferred to the hospital where he underwent surgery and remained in critical condition yesterday. There had been no sign of the perpetrators by late last night. Cigarette ring The 20 suspected members of a cigarette-smuggling ring arrested in northern Greece earlier this week – including four police officers – yesterday testified before an investigating magistrate on a string of criminal charges. The 17 Greeks and three Bulgarians are charged with setting up a criminal gang, committing forgery to the detriment of the state and money laundering. The suspects are believed to have swindled the state out of some 4 million euros by running a factory in Halkidiki. The counterfeit cigarettes manufactured at the factory were smuggled to Germany, according to police, who are seeking another four suspected ring members, all Greek. Hotel raid Police in Corinth yesterday were seeking the three men who held up a hotel in the city late on Wednesday and made off with an unspecified sum. One of the three men fired a warning shot into the air, prompting the hotel owner to hand over the cash. No one was injured during the raid.
