Sevilla firefighters jailed for 'human trafficking' during refugee rescue released on bail
Monday, January 18, 2016 @ 11:48 AM
THREE firefighters from Sevilla arrested for 'human trafficking' whilst helping refugees in trouble reach the shores of Lesbos have been released after a judge provisionally declared them innocent – but they still have to find €5,000 in bail money.
Julio Latorre, José Enrique and Manuel Blanco, half of a team of six working for the charity PROEM-AID in two-week shifts rescuing Syrians cast adrift on overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels off the Greek island have spent three days in police cells following their inexplicable arrest.
Their team supervisor said he was 'stunned', since PROEM-AID has a 'good working relationship' with the Greek coastguard, which is said to have taken the three men into custody.
Although they have now been released from the port authority detention centre in the island's capital, Mitilene – receiving a hero's welcome at the exit from their charity colleagues – they have to pay a bail bond of €5,000 within a month as a 'guarantee' that they will return to Greece if they are ordered to face trial.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com