They were tearing down walls with a “permit” for oil painting and tiling! The collapse of part of a neoclassical building, on Neorion Street in Piraeus, with a young policeman as its victim, is no surprise to those familiar with the case file. A series of mistakes and violations of the law led to the unimaginable tragedy.
By DIMITRAS PANANOU – SOURCE: Realnews
“There was no protective measure. No helmets or ribbons around the building being demolished. Those in charge had declared electronically to the competent services of the municipality of Piraeus that they would carry out minor works under article 30 of the General Building Regulation, which concern oil painting and tiling”, say the lawyers of five of the workers, George and Panagiotis Sapoundzakis.
Unfortunately, however, as it appears from all the evidence in the case file, the people in charge tried to reconstruct it from the beginning, due to the fact that it was an old building from the 50s. “They would build it again having obtained a minor permit. In essence, it is not a permit, but an approval, as article 30 of the GOK (Law 4495/2017) provides for works for which a building permit is not required”, emphasizes G. Sapundzakis, adding: “But instead of complying with the permit, workers had been ordered to knock down walls and carry out work that put stress on the building’s frame – and without any protective measures. By luck no passerby was passing by at that time or we didn’t have any other victims.”
It is noted that, according to article 30 of the General Building Regulation, no building permit or approval of small-scale works is required for works, among others, painting, small-scale internal repairs that do not change the load-bearing structure of the building, replacement of ducts, frames, maintenance and roof repair etc.
A living wage of terror
In addition to the unfortunate 31-year-old police officer Agathangelos Papadopoulos, who, as it was revealed, was working as a construction worker trying to supplement his meager salary and died when he was crushed by the rubble last Tuesday morning, another worker was seriously injured. All eight workers in this building were undeclared and uninsured.
“It wasn’t just the policeman who was trying to make a living with dignity. Another worker, Georgian by origin, is hospitalized with serious injuries. The slab from the collapsed roof found him from the waist down and shattered everything. He was saved, but the chances of him being paralyzed are high. The four of our principals and construction workers, two from the Ivory Coast and two Georgians, came to Greece to survive and, apart from being in danger, they found themselves accused and imprisoned”, says G. Sapundzakis.
“They don’t know Greek, would they check the contractor for the building permit?” If possible. And yet, they were referred to the regular investigator with a charge of a misdemeanor, while a criminal prosecution of a felony has been brought against the contractor, the engineer and the owners”, adds the other lawyer P. Sapundzakis.
Testimonials
Describing how the accident occurred on the fateful day, the lawyers for the five workers, citing what their clients have so far testified, explain that “on the previous Monday, the first day of work, the first floor had been brought down and only the walls. As soon as they attempted to demolish a bathroom wall, the roof fell. All of them were on the first floor.” In fact, according to information, when asked by the police how the building was supported, after the pillars had also been demolished, the workers replied that “only the beams were left”.
The unfortunate 31-year-old police officer from Grevena, as it became known, had received a blood donation permit and, taking advantage of the fact that he was not on duty, he found himself on Tuesday morning in the two-story neoclassical building on Neorion Street to earn a living. Something his family was aware of, never expecting such a tragic event to happen and lose his life so unjustly.
The policeman had joined EL.AS. in 2019 and served in the DIAS team of south-east Attica. According to information, when the largest part of the roof collapsed like a paper tower, the policeman, in order to escape, tried to jump into the back of a truck. However, he was crushed by the rubble, and as a result he breathed his last. EKAV rescuers, firefighters and police rushed to the scene, but it was already too late. “They were all present and the remaining seven were miraculously saved”says G. Sapundzakis, while regarding the fact that his clients were released, but two of them are administratively detained because they do not have legal documents, he states: “We have filed a request for a residence permit based on the fact that they are essential witnesses in the case ».
Arrest
It is noted that the only person guilty of a felony who was arrested was contractorwhile evading capture property owners and the engineer. As the workers’ lawyers reveal, the owners of the property, which was recently sold, are six Lebanese. “Apparently they bought the neoclassical building as part of the Golden Visa program and we estimate that they intended to renovate it and take advantage of it,” notes P. Sapoundzakis.
According to information that came to light through the former resident, the house that collapsed was unsuitable and had complaint and to Sanitary, as, as he claimed, there was mold and leakage in the walls. The complaint was also communicated to Town Planning. Then, as he stated, he accepted threats by the previous owner. All this before it was sold to the new owners. The selling price of the house, according to the tenant, was 450,000 euros, but no one knows – except the authorities – how much the property was finally bought.
The funeral of the unfortunate policeman took place on Saturday at noon at the Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin in Grevena, where his family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues and fellow villagers rushed to say their last goodbyes.
Broken and grieving, his people cannot believe the evil that has befallen them. Everyone speaks in the best words and speaks of a good-hearted young man who did not deserve such an end. Everyone is now waiting for the case to be investigated and justice for all those responsible for this tragic accident. It should be noted that last Friday the contractor of the building, who has been arrested for violating the law regarding building rules and general building planning, was again brought before the Piraeus investigator for his apology.
Read the Realnews article here
Read the Realnews article here
