The 89-year-old who stormed into the EFKA social security office and Athens Court of First Instance with a rifle and wounded five employees has been remanded in custody. Following the completion of his testimony, the 3rd Athens investigating magistrate and prosecutor unanimously decided he should be sent to prison. The defendant testified regarding a series of felony and misdemeanor charges, including attempted murder with intent.
During his lengthy testimony to the investigating magistrate, the 89-year-old claimed he had worked both in Greece and abroad for decades and was demanding the pension he believed he was entitled to.
Shootings at EFKA & Court: What the 89-year-old gunman claimed
The defendant reportedly argued that in recent years he faced a prolonged and extremely psychologically damaging process of claiming his pension, encountering repeated rejections, bureaucratic obstacles, and contradictions between the competent authorities.
In any case, he reiterated that he had no real intention of harming anyone.
Moreover, the 89-year-old had sent a threatening letter to the Prosecutor’s Office, saying that if his problem was not resolved, he would resort to extreme actions.
This incident led to his involuntary hospitalization in a psychiatric institution where he remained for 23 days without being diagnosed with mental illness.
