Thirteen crew members of a luxury yacht are set to appear before an investigating magistrate in Piraeus today to testify in connection with arson charges linked to sparking a forest fire on the island of Hydra.
The investigative magistrate has requestedthe crews' testimony, and if intent is established then each convicted crew member faces up to 20 years in prison and 200,000 euros in fines.
Details of the crew– nine men and four women – have not been released, but local media have identified Daniyar Abulgazin, one of Kazakhstan’s richest men, as a guest on the 176-ft, triple deck, Persefoni I.
He was among six other Kazkhs, a Briton and two Polish nationals, according to a manifest.
The guests, including Abulgazin’s son and wife, Aidan Suleimenova, who heads one of Kazakhstan’s biggest charities, were questioned by authorities but quickly released.
They denied any involvement in the fire sparked by crew members who allegedly fired fireworks over the island of Hydra, setting a massive wildfire in its only pine forest, late Friday.
Abulgazin, the Briton and two Polish nationals have instead claimed that they were watching Poland battle Austria in a Euro 2024 football match.
All have since then fled the country with flight records showing a private jet regularly used by Abulgazin departing Athens airport for Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest city. It was not clear whether the British national fled with him.
The yacht has been temporarily seized pending further investigation. The company, SALAMINIA YACHTING LTD which provides high-quality yacht charter services, said in a statement that it adhered to safety regulations and awaits the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The company remains committed to cooperating with authorities to uncover the truth and reserves all legal rights.