Trial of baby trafficking in Chania: 33 defendants, continuation on 10 November
The Three-Member Court of Felonies of Crete rejected postponement requests and scheduled the next hearing for 10 November. The 76-year-old gynaecologist appeared without legal representation.
Baby trafficking trial in Chania: adjourned until 10 November following rejection of postponement requests
The Three-Member Court of Felonies of Crete adjourned the high-profile trial concerning the baby trafficking and illegal adoption case that was uncovered in Chania in the summer of 2023 until 10 November. According to Dikastiko.gr, the court did not accept the postponement requests that were submitted at the beginning of the hearing proceedings.
The hearing proceedings began on 14 October with the reading of the names of the 33 defendants. The trial is taking place at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAIC), under strict security measures, due to the large number of participants.
The main defendant without legal representation
The 76-year-old obstetrician-gynaecologist, owner of the Assisted Reproduction Centre and the main defendant in the case, appeared in court without legal representation and requested that a lawyer be assigned to him.
A postponement request was also submitted, through a colleague of his lawyer, by the 46-year-old embryologist. An adjournment was also sought by a Professor of Gynaecology at PAGNI, who cited a health problem of his lawyer. The court rejected both requests.
Only 12 of the 33 defendants present
Of the 33 defendants, only 12 appeared in person at the beginning of the proceedings. The remainder are represented by their lawyers.
A total of 341 witnesses have been called for the trial, whilst the defence lawyers number approximately 100. The ruling by the Misdemeanour Court Council of Chania includes an additional 31 defendants, who are said to be involved in the same case.
The charges
The charges facing the defendants include the formation and participation in a criminal organisation for the purpose of committing felonies, as well as joint direction of a criminal organisation.
The charges also include fraud, human trafficking on a serial basis, exploitation of women through the removal of cells and tissues in relation to surrogacy arrangements and fictitious egg retrievals, sale of genetic material, and the application of assisted reproduction methods without the required checks.
Source: Dikastiko.gr