A court on Tuesday began proceedings to consider an eight-day detention request by police for suspended Archimandrite Nektarios.
Nektarios is a suspect in a financial crimes investigation linked to the Saint Habakkuk monastery scandal.
The hearing was initially postponed for two hours to allow Nektarios’ defence time to examine case investigator Panagiotis Panayiotou’s extensive testimony. The judge emphasised these are detention proceedings, not a formal charging of Nektarios.
Nektarios’ arrest follows a report by the Cypriot Tax Department forwarded to police last week.
He faces an investigation for alleged conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, forgery-related offences, and tax crimes.
Nektarios, arrested earlier Tuesday, opted to be addressed as “Father Nektarios” during the proceedings.
The Saint Habakkuk Monastery scandal centres around alleged financial improprieties and misconduct.
The monks face accusations of money laundering, fraud, and obtaining money through false pretences. A large sum of undeclared cash was reportedly found on the premises, raising suspicion about its origin.
The monastery’s lawyers have vehemently denied all accusations, calling them “fabricated” and stressing the legitimacy of their financial operations.
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