Six suspects accused in a major antiquities smuggling case in Crete have been placed under house arrest following a lengthy court session that ended in disagreement between the investigating magistrate and the public prosecutor.
According to Cretalive, the magistrate favored releasing the suspects with restrictive conditions, while the prosecutor argued for pre-trial detention.
The resulting deadlock means the Judicial Council of Heraklion will now decide the matter in the coming days.In the interim, all six accused have been ordered to surrender their police identification cards and passports to prevent any risk of fleeing.
They will remain under house arrest until the council issues its ruling on their legal status.
The case has drawn significant attention as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle smuggling networks dealing in Greece’s cultural heritage.
Specific details about the recovered artifacts or alleged trafficking routes have not yet been disclosed.