Newsstand - Plane-spotters begin legal appeal

Plane-spotters begin legal appeal
Monday, November 4, 2002 Posted: 0819 GMT

A group of 14 British and Dutch plane-spotters convicted of espionage in Greece are to begin their legal appeal on Monday.

The 12 Britons and two Dutchmen were convicted in April of obtaining state secrets.

Greek police arrested the group near a southern military airbase late last year as they toured airports and museums in a holiday organised by a British specialist tour company.

They say they are aviation enthusiasts who make a hobby out of collecting aircraft identification numbers and photographs.

The pastime is popular in Britain but virtually unheard of in Greece.

They were initially charged with spying but the charges were later reduced to illegally obtaining state secrets.

http://europe.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/11/04/greece.planespotters/index.html

Greek prosecutor wants six British spotters freed
A Greek prosecutor called on Wednesday for the acquittal of six British planespotters convicted of obtaining state secrets in April.

But the prosecutor, Nikos Pandelis, told a Kalamata court that the convictions of seven others - five British and two Dutch citizens - should stand.

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s720413.htm