A deadline to make his plea next Friday was requested and granted to the 48-year-old municipal employee in Pallini, who was arrested on a warrant for charges of arson that could have endangered human life or property, committed repeatedly.
The defendant is accused of four fires that broke out in June and July. The fires he is charged with occurred on June 18 and 19, 2025, as well as July 14, 2025, within approximately 200 meters of critical facilities: the Pallini Music High School, the Pallini Disabled Persons Creative Activity Center (KDAP), and the mental health facility for minors and adolescents (Ko.Ke.Psy.Y.P.E.).
It should be noted that the 48-year-old faces felony charges for arson.
Pallini: Municipal employee left disabled children at rehabilitation center then set fires
Meanwhile, new details came to light yesterday, Tuesday, about the permanent employee of the Municipality of Pallini, who was arrested Tuesday for causing 4 fires in the area. According to reports, the 48-year-old employee’s job involved transporting disabled children to a Pallini rehabilitation center using a van type vehicle.
Specifically, the 48-year-old would drop off the children with his vehicle at the rehabilitation center with their escort at 2:00 PM and then, using the same vehicle, would head to unfenced or fenced vacant lots where he would set fire to dry grass. Then, at 8:00 PM in the evening, he would return to the rehabilitation center and pick up the children.
Investigation that lasted at least 2 months
It is noted that his arrest was made following a warrant issued by the Regular Investigator of the 3rd Department of the Athens Court of First Instance, after a systematic investigation by D.A.E.E. that lasted more than two months. The case file had already been forwarded to the Athens Criminal Prosecution Office, while an arrest warrant was issued. The 48-year-old is charged with intentional arson committed repeatedly, at a short distance from forest area.
The fires had been recorded on June 18 and 19, 2025, as well as July 14, 2025, within a radius of approximately 200 meters. The locations were near the Pallini Music High School, the Creative Activity Center (KDAP) for Disabled Persons in Pallini, and the mental health facility for minors and adolescents (Ko.Ke.Psy.Y.P.E.).
How the 48-year-old Pallini municipal employee operated
According to the investigation, the four fires share common operational characteristics as they occurred in afternoon hours, between 3:58 PM and 7:17 PM, in unfenced or fenced vacant lots. As emerges from the investigation evidence, the perpetrator, moving by vehicle near the locations, would set fire to dry grass either using a lighter or by throwing flammable objects such as paper or fabric.
The defendant moved around in a white van-type vehicle with distinctive characteristics that made it particularly recognizable. Finally, from witness statements it emerges that this specific area has shown an unusually high frequency of fires recently. The 48-year-old will be brought tomorrow before the competent investigative authority.
