Jailed Arma devs no closer to release

From this article on PC Gamers, which has a bit more info from a Czech news site, it sounds like the two devs have not been subjected to undue delay.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/11/17/bohemia-arma-3-developers-greece-appeal/

They've been in jail for less than 70 days, and their appeal (I assume maybe a motion to dismiss the charges) has already been rejected. The US federal statutes governing the time limit between arrest, or was it arraignment, and indictment is I think 60 days barring any motions or continuances that lead to extensions, something that could have been used for espionage charges. I don't know the Greek legal code, but the time frame doesn't sound dragged out. Since they've now entered the pre-trial phase, I wish them the best of luck.

That is not to say the devs are more guilty than before, but I want to introduce some balance to my comments. Just as the devs should not be looked at as though they are already guilty of a crime, the Greek judiciary should not be seen as government boogieman out to make the two's lives miserable. Espionage is a serious crime which may even bring implicit diplomatic accusations against a sovereign state. Although I feel for the two devs and certainly don't want to be in their shoes, I actually support a thorough preparation both for the decision to indict and before the trial. I only hope that since they are just game developers, they be remitted to minimum or other appropriate detention centers that don't make their lives more miserable than necessary before the trial.

There is another possibility, one I only want to say on implicit, general terms. Something unsavory, from a legal perspective, sometimes creep into judicial proceedings of international relevance. Espionage figures prominently throughout history. I hope no regular civilian is ever used as a pawn in such power plays between governments. That would be a real tragedy, especially for the civilians involved.

Do some people not understand the situation? These two devs have not been convicted of any crime. Reports of what they may or may not have in possession at the time of arrest is not sufficient to consider them guilty of any crime. Or have they been designated enemy non-combatants or given some other extra judicial status?

If their jail time without a trial is still within the Greek legal limit, so be it, but the Greek legal system should not otherwise be undermined by peaceful AND legal protests, by legal professionals no less. In either case, I find it absolutely shocking that some adopt the attitude "they deserve it" or "they'd be even worse off elsewhere." Though the later is probably true.

A lot of people look down on legal machination that protects those who, in the public eye, are already criminals. Take care your attitude toward the system least you find it wanting when you are on the receiving end of the stick.

Heavy Rain?  More like, heavy fart to the mouth!  Don't ask...

its a shame bush isnt in office he'd be like "their keeping Americans as prisoners and using oil on them shabby military bases lets go to war to get them americans and that oil out."

Fully within their right to hold people spying attempted or otherwise on a military compund. If this was in America and some sod wanted to take pictures of Camp Pendleton for video game references, they'd have a few thousand pissed off Marines making them crap in their pants.

Its just simple common sense that failed these guys. I'm sure they meant well and its just for a stupid game, but we all did things that we thought that was harmless when it really isn't. These guys will be released in due time and they will be smarter now for it. Lesson learned...

I wish them luck, with the strike in the judiciary and the goverment on the verge of collaspe they may be there for a real long time, hell they may be out when ARMA 4 comes out sadly

Let me help you morons out a bit.

Bohemia's side: Since their arrest, Bohemia Interactive has insisted that Buchta and Pezlar were on holiday, and did not enter any military areas or shoot any footage of military objects for use in Arma III.

Buchta and Pezlar's side: the two reportedly claiming that they were collecting reference material for the game.

Contradiction. Know what it means? Go google it.

They said they were documenting military instalations for a video game. They admit it, and they had no permission. Bohemia didnt even backed them up. They said that they were there on holidays. What did you expect to happen?

Stop blaming Greece you ignorant racists. They do what they should and have the absolute right to do.

Bohemia should have cared to obtain permission before sending those guys there, or at least, back them up in case the shit hit the fan. Turn on that damn thing you have in your head.

It's illegal to film and photograph military instalations ANYWERE in the world. In some countries you're even getting shot for that, no questions asked.

Good job Greece -  your country is going to the cra**er, but a rational explanation, and proof that they weren't f'ing spying, and yet still you use money on having them jailed.

Cod devs can learn from them, this is how you make game and not copy paste :D

Perhaps Greece wants to hold them hostage for some financial crisis bail out money? :-O But seriously, this kinda thing reflects poorly on the Greek justice system, IMHO.

I can't simply believe that these people were totally "fool" or that they were just gathering material out of their passion for the game. The game is already at such an advanced stage, that makes it difficult to believe that such material would be of any use. Moreover, if Bohemia really wanted to offer a vivid virtual environment of the area, they should have buyed some maps, which are offered out there by many map-companies, without having to put in danger their own developers. This is not a joke or a silly matter as the area where these "fools" were taking photos is of paramount importance for the Greek defences. The island lies just some 40 or so kilometers away from the Turkish coast. 

Therefore, let the judiciary system in Greece do its job. If it is proved that these people were really so fooool, then I suppose they have already learned their lesson through a very painful way. But if not, then they will be in some serious trouble.

Just let the poor fools out already they learned there lesson.

While this is complete BS, there really isn't any one system out there that is truly unbiased or looking out for the good of the people. There will always be people in jail who shouldn't be there. Look at all the people being released here in America after 20 or more years behind bars because DNA evidence cleared them. Guess how many of them are black? There are so many reasons to despise the system.

This is true passion. We need more developers like this.

Even if they did take pictures and videos for the game, they did so in tourist accessible areas, so WHY is Greece not arresting all tourists?