ATHENS – Rich Kazakhs who chartered a super yacht and were suspects in a fireworks blaze that burned a pine forest on the island of Hydra were let go by a fire brigadier in a chain of mistakes, said SKAI TV.

Without identifying sources the station said a preliminary investigation by the Internal Affairs Directorate said it had found abuse of power and neglect of duty by the official in the arson crimes division as well as official from the Hydra Port Authority, also not named.

The probe was said to have found that the Galata fire department did not take over the case although the fire was in its area of responsibility and that after the port authority was informed by a vessel near the yacht of suspected involvement that it was not stopped nor anyone questioned.

Compounding the apparent negligence, it was said the fire brigadier the next day went to take statements from 17 Kazakhs but after questioning them – it was earlier said they weren’t examined – he let them go.

That, the report said, was despite indications they had set the blaze as an earlier report said they were seen leaving the island on a rubber dinghy and heading back to the yacht.

But while they were let go – one was reportedly tied to Kazakhstan’s state oil company that is the second biggest supplier to Greece – the Captain and First Officer were charged although they were on the yacht, not Hydra.

Authorities later charged eight of the Kazakhs – but only after they were already safely back home and couldn’t be prosecuted – while the Captain and First Officer have been detained and will face trial, although denying any role, as did one of the rich Kazakh businessmen.