Fresh hope for dad in Greek jail nightmare (From Wharfedale Observer)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting WONEWS to 80360, or email
Fresh hope for dad in Greek jail nightmare
9:00am Friday 31st August 2012 in Local news
By Jonathan Redhead, Ilkley/Otley Reporter
Fran Prenga, who is currently in a Greek jail, pictured with wife Louise and one-year-old daughter Maria
There was fresh hope last night that a man languishing in a Greek jail could get a chance to put his case forward next month.
Father-of-one Fran Prenga, 34, from Otley, was arrested in May on suspicion of carrying out armed robberies in Athens in 2004 and 2005, and has been in prison ever since, despite his family protesting his innocence.
His wife, Louise, has regularly flown to Greece in an attempt to get some answers and to try to prove his innocence, with documents she says show Mr Prenga could not have committed the crimes and is a victim of mistaken identity.
But now a family friend says there is hope Mr Prenga could face trial next month, after previous fears he might be forced to wait until the new year.
Hayley Wood said it is also believed 71 of the 72 charges facing Mr Prenga have been dropped by the Greek authorities, although there has been no official confirmation.
“We are still waiting to confirm the trial date is September 24,” she said.
“We have also been informed that Fran is now only implicated in just one offence – the other 71 offences no longer apply.”
Mrs Wood also claimed some documents seen by Mr Prenga’s lawyers in Greece after making a bail application could also point to his innocence.
She added: “The bail application outlines witness statements and, in brief, all of the witnesses confirmed the robbers spoke fluent Greek – Fran does not.
“All of the robbers were wearing crash helmets obscuring their faces, and none of the robbers wore gloves so fingerprints were at the scene of the crime – Fran’s match none of them.
“This, together with the numerous witness statements for Fran from employers, landlords, colleagues and friends, tax documents, proof of movement and British citizenship applications, arms us with a very good case for the pending trial.”
Mr Prenga, who runs a plumbing and bathroom installation business, was arrested by the Greek authorities after attending a police station to fill in legal documents relating to a possible investment in a restaurant.
