Panos Routsi made the allegations while giving evidence at the 41st hearing into the Tempi train disaster. His testimony resumed at the three-member felony appeals court in Larissa on October 14, following an earlier interruption because he became unwell.

Routsi describes an offer to stop pursuing the case

Routsi said the alleged approach came two or three months after he ended a hunger strike. He said the people involved wanted him to stop pursuing the case and part ways with his lawyer, Zoe Konstantopoulou.

According to his account, a call from a foreign telephone number directed him to a meeting. He said the meeting took place inside an SUV with tinted windows.

The Greek newspaper Efimerida ton Syntakton reported further details of his testimony. Routsi said there were two SUVs and several men, who took his phone before putting him inside one vehicle. A man then indicated a bag and said it contained a large amount of money.

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Routsi said he asked for time to consider the offer. He told the court he had not reported the incident to the authorities, but had sought protection and informed Konstantopoulou.

He also alleged that unknown people had physically followed him after the hunger strike. He said his son, who lives in Thessaloniki, had also been followed.

Questions over the fire and exhumations

Routsi asked what caused the fireball that followed the train collision and why people were prevented from approaching the site that night. He said he believed many children could have survived without the fire.

He also described health problems that he attributed to his hunger strike. He said he had developed blood-pressure and heart problems, visited hospital three times and suffered a minor stroke.

Turning to proposed exhumations, Routsi questioned the similarity of forensic documents given to victims’ families. He said he believed his son’s remains might include other body parts.

He called for families to be allowed to appoint technical advisers and for help with expenses. Efimerida ton Syntakton reported that the requested exhumations had been approved but had not progressed a year later.

Testimony remains unfinished

Routsi continued answering questions from Konstantopoulou, but did not complete his testimony at the October 14 hearing. Testimony from Dennis’s mother and sister also remained pending, according to the Greek news outlet emakedonia.

Reports differed on the timing of his next appearance: in.gr said October 19 or 26, while Efimerida ton Syntakton and emakedonia said proceedings would resume on October 19.