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The investigation undertaken by the Greek authorities brings to light shocking revelations about how the Albanian recidivist who killed warder George Tsironis was beaten and tortured to death.

The data of the investigation makes it clear that the recidivist was beaten in Malandrino after killing the warder and the torture to which he was subjected and the deadly blows inflicted upon him took place in Nigrita, before he was moved to a cell with video cameras.

For two hours, Albanian Ili Kareli was in a room with no cameras, where 14 people severely beat him. The forensic doctor testifies that the fracture of the breastbone was obtained at a time close to the time of death. His testimony makes it clear that the recidivist was brutally tortured before entering the cell where he died. Albanian newspapers report that in addition to the beating, there were traces of torture, as relatives of the Albanian claim that he had broken ribs and feet, his nails had been pulled out, and the use of electric shocks was suspected. The forensic doctor however refutes this information.

The people from the prison in Nigrita have already started speaking up, the most typical being the case of the chairman of the organization of warders in Nigrita Harris Konsolidis, who initially claimed that he knew nothing but who it seems was himself involved. Yesterday he was taken to the psychiatric hospital in Serres.

Ultimately, the investigation will be conducted in Serres as the judicial council in Amfissa has decided to send the entire case file to Nigrita since the crime was committed there. It is expected that the results of the histological examination will be ready in the next 10 days. "The case is about horrible, repulsive and inhumane acts on the part of civil servants which question the meaning of law and the due protection of human life," said Chief Secretary for Criminal Policy at the Ministry of Justice Marinos Skandamis. The Greek Union of Human Rights expressed its indignation too, indicating that the case concerns regular use of unlawful violence on the part of state institutions.

According to sources from the prosecutor’s office in Serres, the proceedings formed by prosecutor of Amfissa Nikos Andonarakis are against officials (warders from Nigrita and Malandrino, and policemen from the police station in Itea).

Investigator Georgia Toutoundzi from Serres who has already received the voluminous file on the case of the murder of the Albanian recidivist will specify the charges in the coming days for the subsequent summoning of those involved as defendants. In any case, she may issue arrest warrants, which has not yet happened, if she considers that some of the defendants might abscond or commit another crime.

Prisons

Meanwhile, prisoners serving their sentences in Greek prisons have provided shocking descriptions of the conditions in them. During a press conference the organization "Doctors Without Borders" presented the terrible conditions in detention centres, addressing both the Greek state and Europe. The total number of detained immigrants and asylum seekers is unknown, as virtually every police station, which has a prison, is used as a detention centre. It is estimated that today there are over 6,000 detained immigrants and asylum seekers.

The organization wants to stop the systematic detention of persons which, in many cases, is applied for the maximum period of 18 months.