Dozens of unionists cheered the court announcement acquitting two municipality workers and one teacher over an incident against the German Consul Wolfgang Hoelsche-Obermaier, two weeks ago. The German Consul in Greece became target of angry municipality workers who had harassed and insulted and hurled coffee and water bottles at him.
The three men were arrested a day later and charged with attempt of assault, breach of peace and violence.
The three men denied the charges claiming they had no intention of violence against the German Consul and they had thought it was Merkel’s envoy in Greece, Hans Joachim Fuchtel.
.”I raised my hand and told him ‘get out of here’ siad the 47-year-old municiaplity worker, while his collegaue, 39, said ” I have no money for living, they dismiss us from our job.”
The teacher, 53, complained about his arrest while he was at school.
Interesting enough, the prosecutor expressed understanding for ‘the outrage of Greeks because of the vilification of our country during the last 2.5 years.” However she underlined that “workers’ demands and struggles are not allowed to be expressed in illegal actions.” She proposed the punishment of the defendants.
However they were acquitted as the court accepted their argument that they did not manhandle the diplomat.
sources: ekahtimerini, ana-mpa
