Former Greek Ministers Face Scrutiny in Tempe Train Crash Investigation

Athens, Greece – Former Deputy Minister for Natural Disasters Christos Triantopoulos and former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kostas A. Karamanlis are facing increased scrutiny following the 2023 Tempe train collision, with both referred to the Judicial Council for potential prosecution. The developments come as families of the victims express skepticism about the thoroughness of the investigations.

Triantopoulos Referral and Site Alteration Allegations

Christos Triantopoulos was initially referred to the Special Court for Ministerial Responsibility by the Greek Parliament for alleged breach of duty related to the handling of the crash site after the Tempe train collision in 2023. iefimerida.gr reports that the plenary session voted overwhelmingly in favor of his referral, with 190 votes for and 10 against. He had previously requested a direct referral to the judicial council to clear his name.

The investigation also centers on allegations of tampering with the accident scene. greekcitytimes.com details that Triantopoulos and seven other individuals have been summoned to testify before the investigating judge regarding these alterations. Testimonies are expected to be completed before the conclude of the year, after which the preliminary investigation will conclude.

Karamanlis Investigation and Criticisms

Kostas A. Karamanlis is also under investigation for breach of duty, specifically concerning the financing of the Greek railway and the allocation of public resources during his tenure as minister. Though, families of the victims have voiced concerns that the investigation is not comprehensive enough. They allege that Karamanlis is not being investigated for his role in the non-implementation of contract 717 or regarding the actions taken with the fatal station master.

Lawyers representing the victims’ families have expressed disappointment with the parliamentary process, describing the impeachment of Karamanlis as “provocative.” They hope that the investigating judge will conduct a more thorough investigation than that of Parliament.

Related Investigations and Trials

Several related investigations are underway, including the trial of two inspectors from the National Transparency Authority accused of concealing omissions and criminal irregularities related to the delays of contract 717. This trial is scheduled to commence next Tuesday, after families of the victims intervened to gain access to the case file.

A separate trial concerning “lost” videos from the Tempe crash is also ongoing, with company representatives admitting to deleting records. Families have requested the investigator be called to testify, but this request was denied.

Exhumation Requests and Future Proceedings

Requests for exhumation to determine the exact causes of death for victims who were burned are facing delays due to bureaucratic procedures and limitations of domestic laboratories. Families are seeking to have tests conducted at specialized laboratories abroad.

The central trial, excluding the ministers, will be conducted by the Three-member Court of Criminal Appeals of Larissa, beginning on March 23rd and is expected to be a lengthy process.