Suspects arrested in connection to child pornography cases should be named, even if they have yet to be tried, Justice Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis told prosecutors yesterday.

He said that an amendment to the law last year allows people suspected of certain crimes to be named publicly. Hatzigakis’s comments came after 12 people were arrested this week on suspicion of being part of the biggest child pornography ring uncovered in Greece.

“Several respected figures have been arrested in the past few days over their involvement in a child pornography ring but their names and faces were not made public, even though the protection of society as a whole demands this,” said the minister.

Hatzigakis called on prosecutors to abide by the law and name the suspects.

“Our society, and public opinion in general, has to be protected from the heinous crimes that target it.”

A fourth man was remanded in custody in Thessaloniki yesterday but the 31-year-old was not named. He admitted to possessing child pornography but denied trading in indecent images.