Panagiotis Psomiadis, who is accused of assaulting the former mayor of Thessaloniki, Yiannis Boutaris, during an event commemorating the Pontic genocide in May 2018 in Lefkos Pyrgos Square, has been found not guilty by the sole criminal court of Thessaloniki. .

The indictment accused the former prefect of Thessaloniki and regional governor of Central Macedonia of using derogatory and disparaging characteristics of Giannis Boutaris and called on those responsible for the attack to take action against him.

The court acquitted him of incitement to commit a misdemeanor, accepting a previous recommendation by the District Attorney who cited legal grounds and, in particular, a subsequent amendment to the relevant section of the Criminal Code. With regard to the act of insult inflicted on the accused himself, the prosecution was finally terminated due to the expiration of the statute of limitations under the law on judicial assistance.

The same decision acquitted two more defendants brought to criminal responsibility.

Nine convictions, including a police officer

In contrast to the above, the same court sentenced a total of nine defendants to between 6 and 11 months’ imprisonment, suspended by three years, because they were found guilty, as the case may be, of gross or simple disorderly conduct. peace and damage to foreign property. Among the convicts there is a police officer sentenced to 8 months in prison (found privately at the event).

In total, 12 defendants (some were absent and came with lawyers) denied the actions attributed to them in the case file. All admitted to attending the event, but claimed they did not use violence. Their involvement was established through video footage examined by the police.

As for P. Psomiadis, whom G. Boutaris called the instigator of the attack, the former prefect of Thessaloniki admitted that he called him – on the sidelines of the event – a “political vagabond”, emphasizing that this was a “political expression”.

“I have known him for 50 years, I respected him as mayor, we had a partnership and I respect him as a person. We only have political differences,” he said in an apology, adding that he himself denounces the expression. He denied that he had incited his co-defendant to act against Mr. Boutaris with nods and gestures, as testified by the former mayor himself, who was questioned as a witness “You don’t have a bandit in front of you…” Mr. Psomiadis said, addressing the court.

Previously, Mr. Boutaris testified, among other things: “The mafia needs a chick to get out. He (Psomiadis) did his job to stir up the people.”

Describing what happened that day, he said, “There were three scattered groups in the crowd. […] With that nod they joined […] They approached me, surrounded me, began to push and beat me – some from behind, some from front and side. I fell on the road. I didn’t understand who they were. Arriving at the car, one broke the windshield […] If I didn’t have a security officer with me, I would be in trouble.”

For his part, Yannis Boutaris expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, and when asked what he would remember from this case, he commented: “Absolutely nothing. It’s just that there are stupid people in the world…” In the same case, convictions were passed against three persons who were arrested in a spontaneous proceeding.

Source: RES