Prosecutors probing fire service chief over alleged conflict of interest

Prosecutors in Athens and the Hellenic Police's (ELAS) Internal Affairs department are investigating allegations that the current head of the country's fire service, Vasilis Mattheopoulos, violated public sector laws on conflict of interest by presiding over an annual evaluation of fellow officers in the aftermath of the deadly blaze in eastern Attica last year, Kathimerini has learned.
According to sources, the complaint, which was filed about two months ago, alleges that Mattheopoulos should have exempt himself from a fire service council meeting on January 31 that passed over or sent to retirement officers who, like him, were named as suspects or witnesses in the official probe into the deaths of 102 people at the seaside resort of Mati.
"He should not have participated in the assessment council, but should have abstained, as he could not be objective about these...