In Crete, the tradition of sashos (which ended feuds) continues to play an important role in conflict resolution and a key role in achieving…”brokers” or “sastas” – people who are known to have authority and undertake to mediate in order to reach a compromise – play a key role in resolving conflicts.
They play an important role in reaching a truce.

Following the brutal beating of Emmanouil Kakoulakis by a group of Cretans in Heraklion, mediators took on the task of convincing the victim and his family not to pursue legal action. Instead, they sought an out-of-court settlement to help the five perpetrators avoid prison. This is likely because they could be charged with attempted murder due to the severity of the attack. They viciously beat the unfortunate Greek-Canadian with chairs, fists, and kicks while he was already down and bleeding.

Despite the efforts of the “brokers”, however, the victim’s family seems determined to seek justice. At least two perpetrators have been identified via video evidence of their involvement in the bloody incident, and there were dozens of witnesses who saw the attack. However, the perpetrators remain at large, having taken refuge in a sheepfold village in Crete.

Local police are trying to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Crete’s society is shocked and is calling for strict adherence to the law and exemplary punishment of those responsible. The attack on the Greek-Canadian financier, which took place in front of his children, has shocked the nation, increasing pressure for the immediate arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.

The victim’s lawyer, Manolis Troulis, has told protothema.gr that the family will do whatever is necessary to hold the perpetrators accountable and punish them in an exemplary manner.

At the same time, with a supplementary memorandum submitted and accompanied by photographic material with the craniocerebral injuries suffered, Mr. Kakoulakis asks, through his lawyer, Mr. Troulis, to prosecute the perpetrators for attempted manslaughter and to issue immediate arrest warrants, in order to be brought before an investigator and prosecutor. As the lawyer underlines, the perpetrators had homicidal intent, wanting to take the life of his client.