Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chryssohoidis addressed the recent arrests in connection with the 2010 arson attack on the Marfin Bank branch in Athens, stating that evidentiary material has now been formally submitted. According to Chryssohoidis, the case file runs to thousands of pages.
“Systematic Work Enabled Breakthroughs”
Speaking on SKAI TV, he emphasized that police investigators, officers, and rank-and-file officers were able to work systematically—collecting, evaluating, and identifying key evidence that, in their professional judgment, supports formal charges. “The material existed in Hellenic Police (ELAS) archives,” he said, “but had not been properly utilized in the past due to errors.”
He stressed that a large volume of data required rigorous application of investigative and pre-trial methods. Senior officers have signed off on specific conclusions, all of which have been responsibly and duly submitted to investigating judges and prosecutors—who will now assess them independently. “Answers must be given within the framework of the rule of law,” he added.
Email Was Not the Decisive Factor
Chryssohoidis clarified that an anonymous email sent to ELAS was not the decisive piece of evidence leading to recent developments. “A single email claiming two people committed a crime—can that convict someone? That’s not serious,” he remarked, underscoring that convictions require robust, corroborated evidence. “Such evidence has been submitted to the case file. Today, the investigating judge is evaluating it—and the accused are giving their statements.”
He acknowledged that ELAS has worked on the Marfin investigation for years. The case was transferred to the Homicide Division, where experienced officers collaborated with counter-terrorism specialists to assemble what he described as a complex puzzle. All evidence was also handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations—a unit staffed by highly skilled researchers who employ forensic technology and all legally available investigative tools.
On Photo Identification After 16 Years
When asked whether photographs taken 16 years after the tragedy could reasonably identify suspects, Chryssohoidis replied: “Lawyers do their job. The police do theirs. So do investigating judges and prosecutors—within constitutional boundaries. Everyone fulfills their role, and everyone presents their own arguments. That’s democracy.” He reaffirmed that “the rule of law functions correctly, with guarantees in place.”
Regarding the Argos case—in which a 20-year-old died following a police pursuit—Chryssohoidis reiterated his firm stance: “The police exist to arrest murderers—not to commit murder. That’s the clear message I want to convey. I won’t go into further detail.” He confirmed that suspects have been identified and that a trial will follow in due course—adding that such incidents must not recur.