Violanta owner Konstantinos Tziortziotis was released from prison on Tuesday afternoon after more than six months in custody over a fatal factory explosion in Trikala.
The release follows ongoing legal proceedings into the January blast at the company central production plant, which claimed the lives of five female workers.
Tziortziotis was granted release under strict restrictive conditions. Court orders require him to remain in Greece under a travel ban and report to his local police station once a month until his trial begins.
He faces serious criminal charges in connection with the disaster, including causing an explosion with conditional intent, multiple counts of manslaughter by negligence, and multiple counts of causing bodily injury.
Violanta is a major Greek food manufacturer known across the country for producing biscuits and baked goods. Its primary manufacturing facility is located in Trikala, a city in northwestern Thessaly, Greece.
Safety violations identified at plant
An investigation conducted by the Hellenic Fire Service Arson Crimes Division, known as the DAEE, recorded critical safety omissions at the Trikala facility prior to the explosion. The specialized unit is tasked with investigating major fires and industrial disasters across Greece.
According to the DAEE report, the factory tanks lacked any working water sprinkler system at the time of the explosion. Investigators noted that an archive photograph from 2024 showed a water sprinkler system previously installed above the tanks, but Fire Service officials stated that evidence gathered so far has not established when the system was removed.
Disconnected safety valves and illegal construction
Inspectors also discovered a disconnected solenoid valve on the external piping network outside Building 2, where gas pipes emerged above ground. The valve was found unattached from the system with its wiring hanging loose.
Solenoid valves are electromechanical safety devices designed to automatically shut off gas supplies when sensors detect a leak. DAEE investigators concluded that because the valve was disconnected, the system could not automatically stop the gas flow when the leak occurred.
The inquiry further established that the fatal explosion occurred after flammable gas accumulated inside a basement area at the plant. Documents seized by authorities indicated that the basement appeared to have been constructed without a valid legal building permit.
Tziortziotis will remain under police supervision while judicial authorities prepare for formal trial proceedings regarding the tragedy at the Trikala plant.
