Proceedings were held in a climate of unrest at the former Evelpidon School in the case involving a series of robberies in the Kato Tithorea area, with people expressing support for the accused and the police resorting to the use of chemicals to defuse the tension.
After the completion of the pleas, six of the total eight accused were remanded in custody, while the remaining two were released on conditional release.
During the proceedings, people had gathered outside the courthouse, which led to minor incidents and the immediate intervention of police forces.
The charges they face include, among others, membership in a criminal organization, robbery and grand larceny, as well as weapons violations, drug offenses, violence against employees and vehicle forgery.
Authorities’ investigations link the case to at least eleven robberies, with the illegal financial gain estimated at more than 480,000 euros.
At the plea stage, some of the defendants said they belonged to the anarchist movement, while some of the charges were asked to be heard at a later date. Three of them denied having used violence or resistance during the acts they were charged with.
The proceedings began with the two key figures in the case, a 30-year-old man and his partner, who are believed by authorities to have played a central role in the coordination. Findings such as a detonator and burnt banknotes were found in their home, evidence being examined as possibly linked to an attempted ATM bombing or other cases that have yet to be solved.
