Vassilis Stefanakos, one of the most well known convicts and repeat offenders, was released from prison after eight years under a new prison decongestion bill.
Stefanakos was serving a 21-year sentence for abetting a murder in 2006 and for abetting the perpetrator for escaping prison.
Later in 2006, he was convicted to 14 years imprisonment Also, he was convicted in December 2006 to 14.5 years in prison for extortion and smuggling. He was also accused of collaborating with members of terrorist group Cells of Fire while in prison.
However, Stefanakos was released last week after serving only eight years. According to his lawyer Vassilis Kapernaros, his client was released under Act 4322, a bill signed by current Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos to help prison decongestion.
The bill had caused reactions upon its implementation as it provides for the following: release of detainees upon completion of one tenth of time served for sentences of up to three years, one fifth for sentences of up to five years, two fifths for sentences of up to ten years and the reduction in the minimum time served on penalties over ten years. It also provides for conditional reduction of time served for convicts sentenced to life imprisonment.
Act 4322 was implemented in April 2015 and was valid until April 2016, but the ministry decided to extend the emergency measures to decongest prisons until April 2017.
Opposition parties and police officials have expressed their disagreement over Act 4322 claiming that serious criminals have been released under the Act and some of them continue to be a menace to society.
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