A 45-year-old police officer accused of smuggling immigrants through Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” airport has “left” the Thessaloniki courts with a prison sentence of seven years and eight months.
The 45-year-old, who was a shift supervisor at the airport, was found guilty of facilitating the exit of third-country nationals from Greece.
The authorities proceeded to arrest him when two refugees from Syria tried to pass the boarding gate using fake passports, citizens of Estonia.
In the dock
The 45-year-old police officer who was the main accused and remained in custody since last June accepted part of the charges, while the court decided that his appeal should have a suspensive effect on the execution of the sentence. Thus he will be released from prison and will remain free until the Court of Appeal.
The 45-year-old police officer was a shift supervisor at the airport
Another police officer sat in the defendant’s dock, while Syros, who allegedly tried to travel outside of Greece, did not appear and was tried as if he were present.
The second police officer, who faced the offense of forming a criminal organization that turned into a gang, was acquitted. 13 months in prison and a fine was imposed on Syros who did not appear in court while he was arrested together with his underage sister as they attempted to travel by air with the help of the first police officer.
Tags: Thessaloniki police officer sentenced smuggling migrants Macedonia airport
