A Turkish judge who ruled on Tuesday that the two Greek soldiers should not be released from pre-trial custody, has said that the minimum sentence for border violation is two years in prison.
According to reports, the judge said that the Turkish authorites are continuing with the digital examination of the two soldiers’ phones.
He stressed that the soldiers should have had a knowledge of the area where they got lost and this, according to the judge, increases the probability of committing the crime.
“The minimum sentence for this crime is two years in prison and it is appropriate that their detention is continued,” he was quoted as saying.
Sgt. Dimitris Kouklatzis and Lt. Angelos Mitretodis were arrested on March 2, after they accidentaly crossed into Turkish territory.
They are being held in a Turkish prison in Edirne (Adrianopolis) despite repeated pleas from their defense team to be released until a trial is set.
All five appeals have been rejected on the grounds that they do not have permanent residence in Turkey and are therefore considered a flight risk.
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