Thessaloniki: Police officer who shot 16-year-old under house arrest

An investigator and a prosecutor disagreed on whether or not to remand the 34-year-old police officer who shot and seriously injured the 16-year-old Roma, Kostas Fragoulis, in Thessaloniki. The competent body to decide is now the Council of Misdemeanors, which must meet within five days.

The police officer of the police DIAS motorcycle unit will be released and will remain under house arrest until the competent council decides within five days.

Shortly before 9:00 the policeman. was taken to the coroner’s office. He was excused for 50 minutes, then taken to the prosecutor and then back to the investigator.

According to information from MEGA channel, the prosecutor suggested that the police officer be released while the investigator wanted to jail him. He himself gave a written deposiition of the event.

After the announcement of the decision, relatives, friends and supporters of Kostas Fragoulis left the venue as, despite the fact that there was dissatisfaction, they expect the Misdemeanor Council to decide by Thursday.

Escorted by the police director of Thessaloniki, he was taken to the investigator

The transfer of the 34-year-old police officer from the General Police Directorate of Thessaloniki to the courts took place under extreme secrecy. He was accompanied by the director of the Thessaloniki Police Department. He entered the building from the back and was taken straight to the coroner’s office.

The accused police officer was prosecuted by the first court prosecutor Kyriaki Kliaba for attempted murder with possible malice (felony) and execution of an illegal immobilizing or neutralizing shot (misdemeanor).

What the policeman claims

The accused policeman’s main line of defense is that he acted in lawful self-defense, because of the danger that – as he claims – his colleagues in the front faced when the underage driver tried to ram their motorcycles with his pickup.

As for the shots, he claims he aimed low at the tires, not the driver.

Friends and relatives of 16-year-old Kostas Fragoulis, who is fighting to stay alive while intubated in the ICU of the Hippocrates Hospital, gathered outside the Thessaloniki Courthouse since early morning. Supporters of the family were also present at the scene, demanding justice.

Anger in the Roma community

The gathered crowd chanted slogans against police brutality and state repression against the Roma, while symbolically burning 20 euros, as the pursuit of 16-year-old Kostas Fragoulis began because he did not pay the 20 euros of gashe put in his car at a gas station in the city.

“It wasn’t for the petrol, it wasn’t for the money, the cops shot him because his was Roma” was one of the slogans shouted by those gathered.

It is noted that strong police forces have lined up in front of and around the area of the Courthouse, while 26th October Street is cordoned off.