Greek coastguards will testify in the migrant shipwreck investigation as suspects

As part of a disciplinary probe into their involvement in a catastrophic migrant shipwreck near Greece, Greek coastguard officers will testify as suspects, three sources told Reuters on Thursday.

On June 14, 2023, a vessel that the Greek Coast Guard had been watching for several hours overturned and sank in international waters off the southwest Greek coastal town of Pylos. It is believed that hundreds of people perished in the incident.

The trawler that departed Libya and headed for Italy may have held up to 700 people. Only 82 dead were found, out of the approximately 104 survivors that were saved. After a year, no one has been prosecuted, and family members are still waiting to hear from loved ones.

Regarding the handling of the case that sent shockwaves across Europe and beyond and prompted concerns about the European Union’s migration policies, the Greek coastguard has denied any misconduct.

According to people close to the investigation, some ten officers—including the commander of the coast guard and the captain of the ship that was keeping an eye on the overcrowded ship before it sank—have been asked to testify as suspects.

The officers will be questioned as part of an investigation by Greece’s ombudsman Andreas Pottakis, who is looking into whether any coastguard actions or inactions contributed to the tragedy. He has the right to look into the disciplinary actions of security services.

There is ongoing debate over the cause of the shipwreck. The survivors said that when the coast guard attempted to tow the boat, it capsized. According to the coast guard, the boat turned down help.

According to one of the sources, there have been “adequate indications” of misconduct throughout the search and rescue operation.

According to the sources, the suspects will testify on omissions from the Coast Guard’s communications log and the appropriate planning of a rescue operation.

Further inquiries will focus on whether or not the ship that followed the migrants’ trawler was properly outfitted for a rescue operation and whether or not there were special forces present, and if so, why.

Officers participating in the operation will be asked to address the allegations if the investigation finds that they were responsible at any point throughout the operation. They might be subject to disciplinary action, with termination from the service being the harshest punishment.

A different inquiry was launched last year by a naval court, the only court in Greece with the authority to look into any potential criminal liability of coast guard officers, though it is still in its early phases.

(Source: Reuters)