Austrian national convicted for desecration of Greek flag
CORFU. A 38-year-old Austrian was convicted by the Corfu Court of First Instance.
On Friday, the 38-year-old Austrian national, who had been arrested on Wednesday for desecrating the Greek flag, was tried before the Single-Member Court of First Instance of Corfu. According to witness testimony, which formed the basis of the indictment, the defendant removed a Greek flag from a rock on the beach between Mon Repos and Anemomylos. Under Greek law, this offence carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment. The court gave him an eight-month suspended sentence.
The proceedings were conducted in English with the assistance of an interpreter, and the court appointed counsel for the defendant. In consultation with his lawyer, he referred to a history of medical treatment, which he had discontinued. In his testimony, he admitted to removing the flag but gave contradictory accounts regarding the incident, its causes, and the accuracy of his actions.
The defendant stated that he had recently been sleeping rough and that his only possessions were the clothes he was wearing and a briefcase.
Upon hearing the judgment and the suspension of the sentence, he left the court. He did not lodge an appeal.
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
