Two clergymen from the Saint Habakkuk Monastery were indicted on Thursday, facing a slew of charges that could land them in prison for up to 14 years.
The indictment, filed at the Nicosia District Court, paints a picture of alleged financial misconduct and abuse of power within the monastery.
Archimandrites Nektarios, 37, and Porphyrios, 30, stand accused of a litany of offences ranging from tax evasion and theft to influencing a police investigation. The alleged crimes span from 2020 to March 2024.
Nektarios faces the most severe charges, including accusations of misappropriating a substantial amount of monastery funds for personal gain. He is also accused of interfering with a police investigation by attempting to dissuade a witness from providing crucial evidence.
Furthermore, Nektarios is alleged to have failed to declare rental income and pay VAT on a property he owned in Limassol.
Both clergymen are accused of conspiring to defraud not only the Saint Habakkuk but also the church of Agios Nikolaos in Fterikoudi. The indictment alleges that they devised a scheme to siphon money from the accounts of both religious institutions for their benefit.
The case came to light thanks to the vigilance of Bishop Isaias of Tamassos, who reported the alleged financial irregularities to the police and handed over a significant sum of money (€807,000) believed to be connected to the illicit activities.
His actions sparked a police investigation that culminated in the indictment of the two clergymen.
Although released on bail, the accused face travel restrictions and the obligation to report regularly to the police.
The trial is expected to be lengthy and complex, with a total of 71 witnesses set to testify.
Among them are monks from Saint Habakkuk, parishioners who made donations to the monastery, and investigators involved in uncovering the alleged financial wrongdoings.
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