Greek court drops charges in migrant shipwreck case

(ANSA-AFP) - KALAMATA, MAY 21 - A court in Greece on Tuesday dismissed the charges against nine suspects in one of the Mediterranean's worst migrant shipwrecks, saying it did not have jurisdiction to try the case. The rusty and overloaded trawler Adriana sank on the night of June 13 to 14, 2023, carrying more than 750 people, according to the United Nations. Only 82 bodies were found. Nine suspects -- who were among the 104 survivors -- had faced charges including negligent homicide, participating in a criminal organisation and facilitating illegal entry into the country. The men, aged 21 to 37 years old, have spent the past 11 months in pre-trial detention and would have faced life imprisonment if convicted. The defence team argued that a Greek court cannot try the case as the accident occurred in international waters. The state prosecutor accepted the defence argument earlier on Tuesday, leading the court to drop the charges against the men. (ANSA-AFP).