The pretrial testimonies of 105 defendants who were involved in the incidents ahead of an AEK-Dinamo Zagreb football game that led to the death of a Greek fan on August 7 were completed on Sunday; all are remanded in custody. the hearings that began on Friday, providing testimonies were 102 Croatian nationals, 2 Greeks, and 1 man of Albanian descent born in Greece. One of the defendants provided testimony to a prosecutor who visited him in hospital, where he is under guard.
All 105 denied involvement in the incidents that carry criminal and misdemeanor charges including setting up a criminal organization and involvement in premeditated murder. A 40-year-old Croat who appears to be the leader of the Dinamo Zagreb hooligan group “Bad Blue Boys” claimed that he came to Greece on a flight from Vienna, where he lives, to applaud his team following their practice, but his group was attacked by AEK fans. He also denied he was the leader of the Croat group.
The 105 will be held in 16 jails throughout Greece, split into groups of 3. A group of 8 will be detained at the Avlona jail and another group of 6 will be held in Korydallos jail.
Authorities are also seeking another person, of Greek descent, who has not been fully identified.
The clashes on August 7 resulted in the death of AEK fan Michalis Katsouris, 29. Of those detained, 103 had been arrested shortly after the incidents. One was hospitalized under police guard (and will be remanded in custody when he is discharged) while the 105th one was arrested as he tried to leave Greece on a bus.
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
