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Greek coastguards to affirm as suspects in migrant shipwreck probe, sources say

Greek coastguard officers will testify as suspects as part of a disciplinary examination into their function in a deadly migrant shipwreck off Greece, three sources told on Thursday.

Hundreds are feared to have actually died when a vessel, kept an eye on by the Greek coastguard for several hours, capsized and sank in global waters off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos on June 14, 2023.

As much as 700 individuals were in the trawler which left Libya heading for Italy. Some 104 survivors were rescued but only 82 bodies were recovered. One year on, nobody has been held liable and family members are still waiting for news of liked ones.

The Greek coastguard has actually denied any wrongdoing over the handling of the case that sent out shockwaves across Europe and beyond and raised questions about the European Union's techniques on migration.

About 10 officers, including the coastguard's leader and the captain of the vessel keeping an eye on the overcrowded ship before it sank, have been contacted us to testify as suspects, the sources who are close to the questions said.

The officers will be questioned as part of an investigation introduced by Greece's ombudsman Andreas Pottakis - who has the authority to examine the actions of security forces on a. disciplinary level and is taking a look at whether coastguard actions. or omissions helped cause the catastrophe.

The cause of the shipwreck is still disputed. Survivors say. the coastguard triggered the boat to capsize when it tried to tow. it. The coastguard has said that the boat refused help.

Sufficient indications of wrongdoing throughout the search. and rescue operation have actually emerged, among the sources stated.

The suspects will affirm over spaces in the coastguard's. communications' log and whether a rescue operation was properly. planned, the sources stated.

Other questions will look into whether the vessel that. reached the scene to shadow the migrants' trawler was. effectively equipped for a rescue objective and whether, and if so. why, there were special forces on board.

If the investigation concludes that officers associated with the. operation were accountable at any stage, they will be called to. react to the accusations. They could deal with disciplinary action,. with the highest penalty being dismissal from the service.

A marine court, the only judicial body in Greece that can. analyze any criminal duty of coast guard officers. opened a separate examination in 2015, but it is still at a. initial phase.

(source: Reuters)