Maria Mazonaki, the sister of Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis, said her family is demanding exemplary punishment for what she called the unjust loss of her brother, who died at the age of 54 on Wednesday, September 9.
Mazonaki made the comments on the Greek television programme Live News on Tuesday, September 15, one day after her brother's funeral, which was held on Monday, September 14. She said she knew nothing about the clinic where he took his last breath.
Asked about the details that have come to light concerning her brother's final moments, Mazonaki said the family was demanding exemplary punishment for the unjust loss of their child, and nothing else. She said she had watched footage showing that staff had seen the indications on the machine and had chosen to ignore them, adding that her mind could not comprehend it.
Mazonaki said the criminal charge against those involved had since been upgraded. She said she did not think the suspects would be released, and that she knew nothing about the doctors in question.
How Giorgos Mazonakis died
Mazonakis died on September 9 at Elpis Hospital in Athens, where he was taken that afternoon after a call to EKAV, Greece's national emergency ambulance service. The call was made from the private clinic Stem Cell, on Karneadou Street in the Athens district of Kolonaki, one of the city's most affluent neighbourhoods.
The singer had gone to the clinic for a scheduled session of plasmapheresis, a medical procedure that filters and treats blood plasma and is used to manage certain autoimmune and blood disorders.
Sister's message to fans
Mazonaki also addressed the members of the public who turned out for the wake held in her brother's honour and for his funeral. She said the only thing she wanted to tell those who had come out onto the street was to keep his memory alive forever, adding that this was all she was asking of them.
Investigation continues
The circumstances surrounding Mazonakis's death remain under judicial investigation. Mazonaki repeated that she was not familiar with the doctors linked to the case, but said the family's only demand was exemplary punishment for those found responsible for her brother's death.
