The trial of two archimandrites, Nectarios and Porphyrios, accused of various offences in the Saint Habakkuk monastery scandal case, has been postponed until October 23.
Their lawyer, Eustathios Eustathiou, requested the delay due to amendments to the indictment and the need to obtain additional evidence.
The archimandrites, who remain free on bail, now face five additional charges related to the theft of property by a representative. These charges carry potentially longer prison sentences than the original theft accusations.
Following the introduction of these new charges, the bail amounts for the archimandrites were increased.
Nectarios’ bail was doubled to €100,000, while Porphyrios’ bail rose to €50,000.
The Holy Synod’s court is expected to decide on the punishment of the two monks early next week.
The Saint Habakkuk Monastery scandal involves allegations of financial impropriety, abuse of power, and fraud against three suspended monks from the monastery in Fterikoudi.
The scandal erupted in early 2024 following a raid by authorities, which uncovered a significant sum of undeclared cash.
The monks are accused of money laundering, fraud, and obtaining money through false pretences.
There are allegations of abuse of power within the monastery, including allegations of forced labour and sexual harassment.
The monks have denied all accusations, claiming that their financial operations were legitimate.
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