Out of all proportion

Former mayor of Thessaloníki, Vassilis Papayorgopoulos has received a life sentence from a court of appeal in Greece's second largest city. Was he a junta leader? Was he at the head of a terrorist organization? Is he a serial murderer? None of it. He was sentenced because of the embezzlement of eighteen million euro's from the municipality. Two key officials were also found guilty, but they received considerably lower prison terms. Papayorgopoulos denies all charges and declares he's the victim of a political trial. Stealing eighteen million euro's from public funds is not a petty crime, but that it should be punished with a life sentence is absurd and out of all proportion. The sentence could give one the idea that someone had to be victimized in order to somewhat stem the growing anger amongst a people facing another round of wages and pension cuts. In that case the former mayor of Thessaloníki and former Minister of Sports who fairly recently retired from politics would be a useful pawn. I don't know whether it's the case, but this excessive punishment does raise questions.

I've known Thessaloníki for more than twenty five years now, but only recently I discovered a new footpath for my walks. Almost on my doorstep. It runs along the stream just fifty yards further down the hill and one can follow it all the way to the end of Charilaou, a walk that takes about one hour and a half. It's a green trail through the outskirts of the city on which you are not hampered by lethal drivers in cars or on motorbikes. When I walk down to the city centre I have to be continuously on guard because of traffic rushing out of the side streets. Crossing over when a pedestrian light is green is taking quite a risk because drivers coming round the corner hardly ever bother about something poor as a fellow human on foot and there is always the possibility of the proverbial idiot driving through red because he or she is on a mobile telephone. Taking a bus is not very safe either. A few days ago another driver of a packed bus of OASTH, the company in charge of public transport, was happily chatting in his mobile phone while driving on busy Egnatia Street. If I want a real quiet walk I go to Seïch-Sou forest, but following this path is quite a pleasure too and there's always a place nearby for your morning coffee.

Morning coffee at an outdoor cafe is something Vassilis Papayorgopoulos will have to miss for the time being. I hope he will take his case to the highest court in Greece and I hope he will be cleared of all charges. I've met him once or twice, I believe in his innocence and I love to be proved right. I've always doubted the purpose of sending people to prison. No one ever came out a better person, but that's another subject than today's. Should he be proved guilty after all the sentence ought be humane and proportional, not as barbaric as the one he received now.

©C.A. Klok