Greeks gaoled for torture

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 10 December 1975, Page 21

Greeks gaoled for torture

I (.X.Z. Press Association) ATHENS, Dec. 9. An Athens Courtmartial early today sentenced 23 Green Army officers and men to prison terms ranging from three and a half months, to seven years on charges of torturing political prisoners.

The five-member Court [ ! issued its verdict after 18 hours of deliberation. The! [Judges acquitted 13 of the 361 'defendants, including nine officers. Prosecution witnesses said that the defendants buried political prisoners up to their necks and threatened them with execution, and unleashed wild dogs in their cells. They also beat them with batons and leather belts to make them confess their activities against the military regime, which collapsed in July last year, the prosecution said. About 200 witnesses — all former political prisoners — gave evidence for the prosecution during the trial, which began on October 13. The defendants had served in various military units near Athens, including the special investigation branch of Athens military police

.which became rhe regime’s [most feared security service.[ ! The accused included 271 [officers who pleaded not I [guilty to the charges. Most: (of the soldiers admitted 1 i beating political prisoners, [but said that they acted on ’orders from their superiors. [ The Court suspended the sentences of nine of the 23 [convicted. Three former commanders [of the Special Investigation’ Branch received sentences [ranging from five to seven [years. Lieutenant-Colonels Nicholas Hadzizissis and Theodores Theofyloyannakos were each gaoled for seven [years. The third commander, [Lieutenant-Colonel Anastas-' sios Spanos, was given a [five-year sentence, while his, [deputy, a retired major, [ [George Tsallas. was sentenced to four years. Last September, another court-martial gave these four defendants stiff prison terms for torturing naval officers. The naval officers had been members of an organisation opposing the military regime and attempted to stage a coup to restore King Constantine to the Throne. Colonel Hadzizissis was then sentenced to 23 years in gaol, Theofyloyannakos and Spanos to 20 years and Major Isallas to 15 years. |