Greek court convicts dead man of theft, gives him six-month suspended jail sentence
THESSALONIKI, Greece – A Greek court has convicted a dead man of stealing electricity from a power utility, giving him a six-month suspended jail sentence.
Defence lawyer Christos Bakelas told the Thessaloniki court that his client was deceased, and asked to have the trial deferred until he could deliver a death certificate. But the court refused, and on Tuesday convicted his client in absentia.
Thessaloniki police records show the 46-year-old unemployed father of three died on April 8, but Bakelas wasn’t informed until the eve of the trial.
The man was charged last year after activists reconnected his power supply that had been cut by the electricity company for unpaid bills.
Bakelas said he was astonished by the court’s decision and hadn’t experienced anything like it in his 25 years as a lawyer.
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.