A 43-year-old Greek man, his 38-year-old German partner and a 26-year-old Afghan man were charged Monday with drug trafficking and failing to report a death after police found a stabbed infant’s body hidden in a suitcase at a Kypseli apartment.
The three appeared before an Athens investigating magistrate and were given until Wednesday to prepare their defense.
Prosecutors filed felony drug-trafficking charges and a misdemeanor count of concealing a death.
Forensic examiner Symeon Mesogitis found at least 10 stab wounds on the baby’s back, some of which struck vital organs.
The report classified the case as infanticide, though the exact time of death could not be determined because the body had been kept in a freezer.
In his statement, the Greek man denied killing the infant and claimed the child was not his. He told officers the baby cried 23 hours a day and that “the house became quiet only after it died.” He further alleged the hospital had swapped the newborn with a “satanic” child placed by the Illuminati.
Police said they found drugs in the apartment, including 3.8 grams of cannabis, 14.3 grams of methamphetamine, 53.2 grams of cannabis in chocolate form and two ecstasy tablets.
The discovery came Sunday after the property owner reported unpaid rent and suspected drug use.
Officers entered the Thasou Street flat and found six people inside: the Greek man, the German woman, their three minor children — a 15-year-old girl and two boys aged 12 and 9 — and the Afghan man, who said he was the teenager’s partner.
The 15-year-old was questioned and released. Authorities said two minors in the home showed signs of sexually transmitted infections and were placed under protective care.