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Eurokinissi via Reuters; Greek police via Reuters
A policeman escorts suspected bank robber Nikolaos Romanos near the prosecutor's office in Kozani, northern Greece, left. A mug shot released by police, right, shows Romanos, 20, with significantly less bruising.
Reuters reports — A Greek prosecutor ordered an investigation on Monday into whether four suspected bank robbers were beaten in custody, after police published mug shots that were altered to make their injuries appear less severe.
Rights groups and critics have long accused Greek police of detaining immigrants and other prisoners in shocking conditions.
Photos published in the Greek media of the men, who were aged between 20 and 25 and arrested on Friday, showed them bruised and bleeding while being escorted by police.
But mug shots released by the police over the weekend had injuries missing. One had been altered to remove a purple bruise from beneath the suspect's left eye. In another, black bruises below the suspect's eyes and cheeks appear to have been erased.
Eurokinissi via Reuters; Greek police via Reuters
A policeman escorts suspected bank robber Andreas Bourzoukos in Kozani, left, and the mug shot of Bourzoukos distributed by Greek police, right.
Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias acknowledged the photographs had been tampered with, but defended the decision by saying it was to make the four men recognizable to the public.
"Photoshop was used and I - just like you, just like any reasonable person - asked why was this done," Dendias said on Greek television when asked about the press reports.
"Because if they hadn't been Photoshopped, in order to make them resemble an image that the average person would recognize them in, then the photos wouldn't have been published in the first place." Read the full story.
Leave a Comment:
wow... this is scary... i guess we'll be seeing wanted ads for Photoshop artists from US police departments soon
It's not scary. It's funny! The perps deserved getting beaten like that for what they did!
As for photoshopping the pictures... It's not to cover up police brutality, it's to make them more recognizable.
First of of all, the idea that they need to make them recognizable makes no sense. Its a mugshot not a PR photo. If you believe that I've got a bridge to sell you. Second, they tried to rob a bank because Greece is in a depression caused by the international banking system who are themselves essentially bank robbers. Not Greece's borrowing. They're at 30% unemployment. And if you read above you'd know that the Greek police are infamous for this.
These guys' mistake was thinking you can rob a bank that you don't own.
First off There are better ways to use photoshop. Putting your bosses head on a Playboys bunnie body. Next they should know there is one way not to have photoshop used. DON"T ROB A BANK!!! There are other ways to make money. Give me a break!!!
ummm....so the fact that they were beaten beyond recognition in the first place isn't enough evidence??? yikes.....
1. First photo looks like he suffered injuries during or before arrest--resisting arrest maybe?
2. If they were going to photoshop the second guy, could they have made him look less Neanderthal?
Worst photoshops ever.... I can't believe they were trying to hide brutality. One look at the photos and you know they been heavily touched up and still look plenty swollen. Frankly I think the guy looks worse in the second set of pictures after the photoshop. It's like they tried to make him look like a drooling moron.
What do you say to a bank robber with two black eyes?
Nothing, he's been told twice.
Seriously it doesn't have to be that way. Those who beat them, it's not even their money. I'd expect heads to roll over this, or violence againt Greek police to go up another notch.
Easy to fix. Include the originals that show the injuries in the files as well as the fixed photos with a time line of custody included. It might save a lot of hassle. Its not as if the fixed photo was not obvious.
B.S. !!!!!
Wow . . . that's the explanation?!?!? Unbelievable!
Anybody who can't see through this deception is as stupid as the people who concocted it.
I expect more from such a well run law and order country such as Greece.
Police brutality, Grecian style. Talk about a deterrent for would-be criminals. Who needs a death penalty when you know you will probably be beaten within a inch of your life by the arresting policemen?
not the way govt. is supposed to work. or maybe you believe in the big brother theory.
Pretty bad photoshop job.