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Eight Kazakh passengers charged

Greek prosecutors have charged eight adult Kazakh passengers of the 'Persefoni I' with complicity in arson for a fire on the Saronic island of Hydra last week. Two minors among them were not facing charges. The Greek authorities have sought assistance from Kazakhstan, as the yacht’s renters left Greece without being questioned by authorities. The prosecution was prompted by new evidence uncovered during a forensic investigation ordered by the prosecutor at the site of the fire. Firefighters discovered remnants of fireworks in the cove where the blaze erupted. Meanwhile, the yacht’s captain and first mate have been detained, while other crew members, who were apprehended, were released on bail with restrictions. Simultaneously, the Piraeus Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a preliminary inquiry into the firefighting and port authorities’ handling of the Hydra fire case. The focus was on investigating any oversights that permitted the yacht’s lessees to depart Greece despite suspicions of their involvement in the blaze.

Yacht crew expected to deny arson

The crew of the 'Persefoni I', being accused of starting a forest fire on Hydra, were expected to deny arson charges when they appear before a judge on June 26. The fire, which was believed to have been sparked by fireworks, broke out on the night of June 21, devouring nearly 300,000 square metres of the island's only pine forest before fire fighters tamed the flames early on June 22. The 13 Greek crew members of the yacht, which had been moored 350 metres away from the shore when the fire erupted, were arrested on June 23 at a marina near Athens and charged with starting the blaze. They have all denied any wrongdoing and were expected to reiterate their stance before an investigating magistrate at the court of Piraeus. The judge will then decide whether to free them or detain them pending trial. The captain of the vessel had been the first person to alert authorities about the fire, while other yachts were also in the wider area. Witnesses testified that they saw smoke and flames after hearing 15-20 loud sounds, similar to firework explosions, at 10.30 p.m. LT, according to court documents. A rubber boat was seen sailing towards the yacht as the fire was spreading fast. Report with photos: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/yacht-crew-expected-to-deny-arson-charges-over-fire-on-greek-island/ar-BB1oUz6B?item=themed_featuredapps_enable

Kazakh oligarchs allowed to leave without being interrogated

As 13 crew members of the 'Persefoni I', who were accused of starting a devastating wildfire on the Saronic island of Hydra sparked by fireworks shot off the privately chartered yacht they were working on prepared to face a magistrate on June 26, the people, including Kazakh oligarchs with ties to the country’s corrupt former president and the state oil company, who had hired their services were allowed to leave the country. However, these individuals were reportedly never questioned after the yacht was escorted to the southern Athens harbor of Vouliagmeni and impounded by the authorities investigating the blaze, which razed an important pine forest on the small arid island, even though the investigation was still under way. The crew has been placed under arrest and face charges of arson by negligence, a felony that can carry a hefty fine and a prison sentence. Fire Service arson investigators believed that the blaze was started by fireworks shot off the yacht, possibly by the clients or on their orders, which was anchored in a bay off the coast of Hydra. Witnesses in the area have corroborated that version of events and suggested that the crew may have made some effort to put out the blaze when it first started. Report with photo: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/environment/1242346/as-yacht-crew-faces-magistrate-over-hydra-fire-clients-allowed-to-flee/