Croatian Captain To Be Released From Greek Prison?

After more than a year in Greek detention, the trial to Croatian captain Laptalo is to start tomorrow.

Dubrovnik-based captain Kristo Laptalo is to stand before the Greek Court in Patras tomorrow, after he had spent 369 days in Greek detention, without trial.

The defence witnesses, Predrag Brazzoduro and captain Vladimir Glavocic went to Greece on Monday.

- We don`t think the trial will last ling and captain Laptalo might be released from detention tomorrow already – Marko Miocic of the Seafarers` Union of Croatia said.

The final deadline for the trial`s start was scheduled for June 11, but due to an earthquake which damaged the court`s building in Patras, the hearing was rescheduled for July 16.

- According to us, there was no reason to postpone the trial because of the damaged court building. There weren`t any large-scale reconstructions. We hope for the best, that justice will prevail, because we are certain that according to all, captain Laptalo is not to be blamed and we can`t wait for tomorrow and the acquitting verdict – Miocic said.

Laptalo, who was arrested mid-July 2007 commanded the ship “Coral Sea”, where 51 kilos of cocaine were found as it docked in the Greek harbour of Patras.