The head of Greece’s Larissa station was arrested and faces trial on Sunday, his lawyer said, on charges related to the country’s deadliest train accident.
The man was arrested on March 1, hours after a passenger train carrying more than 350 people on board a freight train near the central Greek city of Larissa killed at least 57 people and injured dozens more. others. Charges were brought on Thursday against the 59-year-old, who cannot be named under Greek law, for disrupting travel and endangering life. He appeared before a judge on Sunday to answer the charges.
“It was expected because of the importance of the case, the charges, the responsibility,” his lawyer Stefanos Pantzartzidis told reporters, adding that his client was “disappointed” and told the judge “the truth without fear”. On Thursday, he said his client had taken his “small” role, but other factors were also at play, without elaborating.
Greek rail unions have long complained about lax safety standards, which put passengers and workers at risk.
