Thessaloniki: sentences over beating of shop employee

The In Flagrante Single-Member Misdemeanours Court of Thessaloniki has imposed prison sentences on a couple, following an incident at a coffee and convenience shop in the city centre. According to the news outlet NewsIT, the incident occurred at midday on Monday 17 August, when a 48-year-old customer, known at the shop for previous problems, punched in the face an employee who had refused to serve him on the management’s instructions. Shortly afterwards his 47-year-old partner also appeared at the spot and, according to the charge sheet, threw lids at the owner. The police were called and the 48-year-old was arrested.

The employee appeared in court wearing a neck collar, because of a straightening of the cervical spine, an injury often caused by a sudden movement or a blow. “He hit my hand and then he punched me in the face,” he testified, describing the incident. The court found both defendants guilty of disturbing the peace of the premises, while the 48-year-old was additionally found guilty of making threats and of causing bodily harm. The in flagrante procedure allows cases to be tried within a few days of the act, provided it is a misdemeanour and the perpetrator is caught in the act. The offence of disturbing the peace of the premises also covers professional premises, when someone remains in them despite the explicit objection of the person in charge.

The 47-year-old was given a four-month prison sentence, convertible at ten euros a day, while the 48-year-old received a nine-month sentence. Both were released, as lodging an appeal has suspensive effect, that is the sentence is not carried out until the case is heard at second instance. The conversion of imprisonment into a financial penalty is provided for by the Penal Code for short sentences and is applied on the basis of the convicted person’s financial situation. The case will be heard again at second instance, where the court may uphold, amend or quash the first-instance decision.

Incidents of violence against workers in catering and retail regularly occupy the in flagrante courts of the large cities, particularly when they are linked to alcohol consumption. Front-line service workers are often faced with aggressive behaviour, without having means of protection or clear protocols for handling it. It has not been announced whether the employee will bring a civil action for compensation for the harm he suffered. Other incidents of violence have been recorded recently in Thessaloniki, such as the five arrests over an attack at Foinikas. Employers’ bodies in catering have in recent years called for a clearer framework for protecting staff and for a faster response to such incidents by the authorities. It has not become known whether the shop has taken additional security measures since the incident.