{"id":1998,"date":"2025-02-28T15:29:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T13:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prili-law.gr\/the-criminal-procedure-in-greece-stages-preliminary-investigation-and-the-rights-of-the-suspect\/"},"modified":"2025-02-28T15:29:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T13:29:31","slug":"the-criminal-procedure-in-greece-stages-preliminary-investigation-and-the-rights-of-the-suspect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prili-law.gr\/en\/the-criminal-procedure-in-greece-stages-preliminary-investigation-and-the-rights-of-the-suspect\/","title":{"rendered":"The Criminal Procedure in Greece: Stages, Preliminary Investigation, and the Rights of the Suspect"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Four Stages of Criminal Proceedings in Greece<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Greek criminal procedure consists of four main stages:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Pre-trial Investigation (Preliminary Proceedings)<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Trial (Hearing before the Court)<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Appeals and Legal Remedies<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Enforcement of Judgment<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    During the pre-trial investigation<\/strong> stage\u2014which includes the preliminary inquiry, the initial investigation, and the main investigation\u2014the Greek Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP)<\/strong> sets forth the process for collecting evidence and deciding whether or not to initiate criminal prosecution.<\/p>\n

    The Preliminary Inquiry<\/strong><\/p>\n

    According to Article 43 of the CCP<\/strong>, the preliminary inquiry<\/strong> aims to gather sufficient evidence to determine whether a criminal prosecution should be pursued. It is a concise procedure lasting up to six months<\/strong>, with the possibility of extensions. It is mandatory<\/strong> for felonies and certain misdemeanors.<\/p>\n

    Importantly, during this phase<\/strong>, the individual is treated as a suspect<\/strong> and not yet a formally accused party<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Rights of the Suspect During Preliminary Inquiry<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Even though the suspect has not been formally charged, they are entitled to the same rights as a defendant<\/strong>, including:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Access to the Case File & Deadline for Written Statement<\/strong>: The suspect has the right to request a copy of the case file and receive detailed information on the charges, along with adequate time to prepare and submit a written statement of explanation.<\/li>\n
    • Right to Legal Counsel<\/strong>: The suspect may appoint a lawyer either in writing or during the proceedings. If this right is initially waived, it can be exercised at a later stage.<\/li>\n
    • Presence of Counsel During Investigative Acts<\/strong>: The suspect has the right to be represented by counsel during all investigative actions, except for the examination of witnesses or co-defendants\u2014unless the prosecutor decides that these cannot take place in court.<\/li>\n
    • Review of the Case File<\/strong>: The suspect and their legal counsel have the right to review the file in its entirety.<\/li>\n
    • Request for Evidence<\/strong>: The suspect may request the production of additional evidence or an extension of the deadline for their statement.<\/li>\n
    • Interpreter and Translation Services<\/strong>: If needed, the suspect has the right to interpretation and translation to fully understand the procedure.<\/li>\n
    • Appointment of Technical Expert<\/strong>: If an expert opinion (forensic or otherwise) is ordered, the suspect may appoint an independent technical consultant.<\/li>\n
    • Right to Remain Silent<\/strong>: The suspect has the right to remain silent and avoid self-incrimination.<\/li>\n
    • Written Notification of Rights<\/strong>: If detained or arrested, the suspect must be informed in writing of all their legal rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Absolute Nullity of Proceedings<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Any testimony or statement obtained before an individual is officially considered a suspect<\/strong>, especially if taken under oath or without access to their rights<\/strong>, must not be included in the case file<\/strong> once prosecution is initiated. This would constitute a violation of the right to a fair trial<\/strong>, as protected under Article 20(1) of the Greek Constitution<\/strong> and Article 6 of the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights)<\/strong>\u2014leading to absolute nullity<\/strong> under Article 244(3) of the CCP<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      Prosecution for a Different Offense<\/strong><\/p>\n

      If, after the preliminary inquiry, the prosecution is initiated for a substantially different offense<\/strong> than the one the suspect was originally questioned about, they must be recalled and granted all procedural rights<\/strong> anew\u2014unless<\/strong> exceptional circumstances apply (such as risk of flight or imminent reoffending).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Four Stages of Criminal Proceedings in Greece The Greek criminal procedure consists of four main stages: Pre-trial Investigation (Preliminary Proceedings) Trial (Hearing before the Court) Appeals [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1900,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","post_format-post-format-image"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Criminal Procedure in Greece: Stages, Preliminary Investigation, and the Rights of the Suspect | \u03a3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c5\u03c1\u03bf\u03cd\u03bb\u03b1 \u2013 \u0391\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03b3\u03cc\u03bd\u03b7 \u03a0. \u03a0\u03c1\u03b9\u03bb\u03ae & \u03a3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03ac\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta 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