Popular singer Notis Sfakianis appeared before the magistrate in Athens on Monday morning following his arrest on drugs and weapons charges on Sunday night.
The singer was arrested shortly after 8 p.m. in the southern Athens suburb of Elliniko by police officers who found an unlicensed pistol, a taser and 2gr of cocaine in his possession. The control was conducted during a routine check for compliance with coronavirus restrictions on motorists.
What prompted the search was not clear, however, as local media reports indicated that Sfakianakis was not found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of his arrest, was in compliance with lockdown measures and had not engaged any kind of verbal or physical altercation with the inspecting officers.
According to a press release issued by his lawyer, Alexis Kougias, Sfakianakis had a license for the 9mm gun that had expired and not extended due to the lockdown.
The lawyer emphasized that Sfakianakis owned this weapon for decades for his personal safety due to the peculiarity of his profession, the hours he works and the money he transfers “since many of his colleagues have fallen victim to robberies..”
“Regarding the small amount of drugs found in his car, Mr. Sfakianakis stated that it was not his, giving full explanations for it,” the press release also stated.
Sfakianakis’ trial has been postponed to December 2, he was set free. He has been reportedly charged for two misdemeanors: possession of “drugs for own use” and of “weapon.”
Sfakianakis rose to fame in the 1990s and became a controversial pop culture figure more recently after openly expressing support for the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, noted kathimerini.
