Opposition presses gov’t over email alleging evidence removal in Tempe crash
Opposition parties have accused the government of evidence tampering in the investigation into the Tempe train disaster, demanding answers over an email allegedly confirming officials approved the removal of critical materials from the crash site.
The February 2023 crash, Greece’s deadliest rail disaster, killed 57 people when a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train due to a signaling error. The tragedy led to nationwide protests over railway safety and government accountability.
The allegations gained traction following a report in Estia newspaper, which published an email dated March 9, 2023, from Christos Triantopoulos, then deputy minister of state, to several senior officials, including Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of State Akis Skertsos and Thessaly Regional Governor Kostas Agorastos. The email confirmed Triantopoulos participated in a meeting with Gerapetritis and Agorastos to discuss the “collection and restoration of the site” of the crash. The opposition claims this suggests coordinated efforts by officials, possibly involving evidence tampering.
However, government sources denied the allegations, calling the email a routine update regarding financial support for victims’ families and covering expenses for the Thessaly region. The sources emphasized that the email had no connection to evidence removal, describing the actions taken as part of the recovery process, not illegal interference.
In a parliamentary session on Thursday, SYRIZA leader Sokratis Famellos questioned Skertsos, citing a document from the Appeals Prosecutor’s Office. Famellos claimed evidence was removed from the crash site without the prosecutor’s knowledge, violating legal procedures. He asked Skertsos: “Were you aware of an illegal act through the email you received? Yes or no?” Famellos also called for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and former infrastructure minister, and now foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis to testify.
New Left parliamentary representative Efi Achtsioglou accused the government of concealing evidence. “The email confirms the government approved the removal of materials from the crash site – an illegal act, as prosecution had already begun,” she said. “The government didn’t bring us closer to the truth. It orchestrated a cover-up.”
SYRIZA’s Nikos Papadopoulos also challenged the government’s version of events, questioning whether Triantopoulos’ email contradicted earlier statements. Gerapetritis defended the government, asserting the email was about financial support, not illegal activities at the crash site.
Opposition leaders continued to demand transparency, calling for the release of emails and other communications related to the disaster. Famellos, in particular, urged the government to make the emails public to clarify the government’s actions in the aftermath of the disaster.
The opposition claims that the government’s actions have undermined the investigation and obstructed justice for the victims. On Wednesday, 85 opposition MPs from PASOK, SYRIZA, Course of Freedom and New Left, along with nine independent MPs, filed a censure motion against the government over its handling of the Tempe disaster.
Kathimerini
