Under strict security measures, the 43-year-old tenant of the missing Stavroula Leventaki and the prime suspect in her disappearance.
The accused arrived at the Chania courthouse without saying a word, escorted by heavily armed OPKE police officers and wearing a bulletproof vest. The North Macedonian national was arrested on Friday night in the Agia area following a police surveillance operation. So far, his arrest is not linked to the case of the 45-year-old woman’s disappearance, but relates to charges of cultivating and possessing cannabis seedlings.
According to his defense attorney, Yiannis Troikilis, the charges brought against him relate exclusively to the cannabis seedlings and are felonies. The 43-year-old has been given a deadline to enter a plea next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Hellenic Police’s investigation into the disappearance of Stavroula Leventaki continues with particular care and discretion, while all evidence collected is being examined, including items found at the 43-year-old’s residence.
According to official sources, blood found inside the 43-year-old’s home belongs to the missing woman. Bloodstains were initially found on a television in the living room of the house. The identification was made yesterday, and an arrest warrant for the 43-year-old is now expected to be issued.
Officers from the Chania Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Sub-Directorate conducted a thorough search of the 43-year-old’s car, and, according to reports, evidence related to the 45-year-old woman’s disappearance was found inside it.
Realizing he had become a suspect in the investigation, the 43-year-old rushed to go into hiding on Friday morning, leaving his cell phone on, inside his abandoned car. Late that night, police located him hiding inside another vehicle in the area and initially arrested him for possession of cannabis seedlings.
In an attempt to explain his own disappearance, the 43-year-old claimed (CARD) that he was receiving threats from the circle of Stavroula Leventaki. He also implicated her brother, saying that she had asked him not to talk about the relationship between the two siblings.
From the outset, authorities focused on findings of biological material resembling blood and showing signs of a hasty cleanup, which were discovered both in the home as well as in the car of the 45-year-old woman’s tenant. The material was sent to forensic laboratories. Police are awaiting the DNA results and findings from the other evidence to proceed with expanding the charges against the 43-year-old.
