Pending the court's decision on the request for a postponement of the trial of Golden Dawn submitted by the convicted Nikos Michaloliakos, MEP Giannis Lagos requested his release from prison.
For this reason, he submitted to the Athens Court of Appeal a request to suspend the execution of the sentence imposed on him by the court of first instance in the case of the Golden Dawn criminal organisation.
Explaining his request to the court, the accused said that: "Since 2019, I am an elected MEP. When the original judgment came out I was in Belgium for six months. I never tried to leave and avoid justice. I came back. I did not create any problems. I am not suspected of committing any new offences. If a sitting MEP is not entitled to a suspension, then no citizen is. I was continuously present at the police station three times a month and then I was present in Brussels. (...) Apart from not actually having my seat - because in theory I have it - I have suffered a great financial loss.
He pleaded not guilty
He claimed that together with him, his associates in Athens and Brussels are facing big problems, who, he said, "the only felony they committed is that they are my associates."
Continuing, the accused pleaded not guilty, saying that he has not committed any offence. "I went on a hunger strike in Domokou prison for the Appeal Court to go ahead and take place.
Because if this Appeal Court is interrupted, postponed or if it takes a long time, I will have served the sentence totally unjustly and it will be as if there is no need for it." Still, he said: "If your court finds that I am innocent, if it finds that I have a mitigating factor most of the sentence has been served."
Concluding he said addressing the court: "Allow me to perform my duties as an MEP."
What did the prosecutor propose
Taking the floor, the prosecutor asked for the rejection of I. The court reserved its decision.
Kalaritis also requested to be released from prison
Then the accused Elpidoforos Kalaritis also requested to be released from prison, citing family reasons. The court adjourned again as the presiding judge said from the bench that no lawyer was taking over and for this reason the bench, he said, in order not to waste time, proceeded to consider requests from the accused.
Source: in.gr
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