ATHENS, Greece — On Monday, Greece’s police minister announced that stringent measures would be enforced against law enforcement officers on Crete. This decision follows their failure to arrest a driver who was found operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and without a valid license. This individual was later involved in a tragic accident that claimed the life of a 22-year-old man, Panagiotis Karatzis, in the town of Chania early Saturday morning.

The road incident sparked widespread outrage in Greece regarding the perceived leniency and shortcomings of the justice system in dealing with such offenses. Reports indicate that the driver, who has not been named due to legal regulations, is a prominent local businessman. Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis expressed his disapproval by stating, “It is clear that the law was not implemented,” in an interview with Skai television.

Minister Chrisochoidis addressed the issue, acknowledging that certain societal habits and mentalities persist within local communities and public services. He emphasized that while he does not intend to excuse the officers’ actions, their failure to enforce the law is utterly unacceptable.

The police officer’s actions are now under scrutiny, and the minister confirmed that appropriate penalties would be enacted once the relevant administrative and judicial processes are complete.

The individual involved in the accident had been stopped by traffic police on Friday night and subjected to a breathalyzer test, which revealed a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit. It was also noted that the driver had no license due to a prior drunk driving incident. Instead of detaining him as legally required, the police issued a fine and allowed him to hand over the keys of his SUV to a sober passenger.

Unfortunately, the driver managed to reclaim the keys and subsequently crashed into Karatzis’s vehicle, resulting in the fatal outcome. Crete has gained a reputation for high road accident rates, contributing to Greece’s status as one of the European Union countries with the highest traffic-related fatalities.

In a heart-wrenching statement before his son’s funeral, Antonis, the father of the deceased, lamented the ongoing issue, saying, “Panagiotis won’t be the last victim. Because the mentality hasn’t changed, and it will never change.”