Mayor of Stylida and two others remanded in custody over major fire in Boeotia

On August 7, 2026, the mayor of Stylida, Giannis Apostolou, and two other individuals, including a contractor and a company owner, were remanded in custody following an investigation into a major fire that originated at a wind farm in Boeotia and spread to West Attica. Authorities determined that the blaze was linked to an electrical network project managed by the mayor's own company.

The decision to remand the trio was reached unanimously by the investigating magistrate and the prosecutor after a marathon session that lasted from 09:30 on Thursday until 04:30 on Friday. While the mayor and contractor testified before the magistrate in Thebes, the company owner, who had been sought by authorities, surrendered voluntarily on Tuesday. The case has raised significant concerns regarding corporate negligence and accountability in infrastructure projects.

Defense attorney Georgios Doumas has characterized the defendants as scapegoats in the legal proceedings. Supporters of the mayor gathered outside the courthouse in Thebes during the extended judicial process to await the final decision, which resulted in the immediate detention of the accused. The investigation into the fire's origins and the subsequent legal ramifications remain ongoing.