A 59-year-old man who confessed to starting six fires over a four-day period in Sindos, Thessaloniki, has been charged with the felony of repeated arson with intent. The defendant appeared remorseful before the authorities, apologized, and reportedly claimed that he started the fires to “let off steam” from the pressure and exhaustion of work.
The 59-year-old was taken today to the Thessaloniki Courthouse, attempting to hide his face with his hands. After the charges were filed, he was referred to the investigating judge, from whom he requested and was granted a deadline to present his defense on Friday.
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“I started the fires out of stupidity”
According to a report by Mega, the 59-year-old reportedly told the prosecutor that on Tuesday, August 11, he had taken time off from work and left early. That afternoon, after drinking two glasses of retsina, he got in his car and went for a drive, taking paper towels with him.
According to his claims, he used the paper towels to start the fires without any specific target and without his actions being linked to any intent for revenge.
“I started the fires on a whim. I was relieving the stress I felt from my job,” he reportedly claimed.
He reportedly gave a similar explanation in his initial statement to the Fire Department, saying that this was his way of “letting off steam because he was under pressure.”
Source: Protothema.gr
