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Delegation gains access to Coral Sea prisoners
28 March 2008
A three person delegation yesterday managed to visit three of the crew members of the Coral Sea, who have been held in custody in Greece since last July. Access to the men was gained thanks to Greek trade union the Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation’s interceding with the Greek Government.
The group was made up of Fabrizio Barcellona of the ITF’s Special Seafarers’ Department, and ITF national coordinators Predrag Brazzoduro, from Croatia, and Stamatis Kourakus, from Greece. They met the imprisoned men in the Korydallos Detention Centre following consultations with the team of defence lawyers.
The seafarers, Kirsto Laptalo, Konstantin Metelev and Narciso Garcia, have been repeatedly refused bail since the discovery of 51kg of cocaine in an Aegion warehouse eight months ago – despite their complete denials of involvement and the lack of any proof of guilt. The first hearing of their case is not likely to take place before June of this year, almost a year after they were arrested – despite petitions from the Croatian Government, trade unions, welfare organisations and others.
After visiting the men the ITF delegation stressed that the continued detention without trial was seriously undermining their mental and physical wellbeing. The repeated refusal of bail had hit them particularly hard, they said.
Speaking for the ITF, Fabrizio Barcellona stated: “The ITF unequivocally condemns the crime of drug trafficking and we congratulate the Greek authorities on its seizure of the cocaine last year. We also believe that it is clear that there are no grounds for refusing these men bail – refusals which have done nothing to further justice, but have instead brought them physical hardship and mental suffering.
“We call on the Greek authorities to allow bail, take responsibility and promptly begin a fair trial, which we believe will exonerate Kirsto Laptalo, Konstantin Metelev and Narciso Garcia.”
ENDS
For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org
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