A criminal organization whose members defrauded citizens and made a profit – in the form of donations – of 1.3 million euros was dismantled.
The sums were extorted from believers by a 68-year-old priest and his 61-year-old close associate, a former priest, persuading their victims to support the former in order to become – as they said – the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki. The fraud was revealed following an investigation by the Thessaloniki Organized Crime Prosecution Department of the Hellenic Police. which was triggered by complaints from six alleged victims.
In addition to the 68-year-old active priest in a church in Thessaloniki and his associate, who was deposed as a priest, two more of their accomplices, 51 and 34 years old, are involved in the case.
According to the Police announcement, “the first two involved, during the period from November 2018 to February 24, 2023, taking advantage of the status of the 68-year-old and the influence he exercised because of it, falsely declared that his advancement in the area where he moves and showing fake letters drawn up by the former, where they appeared to be senders – authors religious organizations and government agencies, they extracted sums of money from six citizens”, reads a statement from the Police. The investigation also revealed that the money was being transferred to the accounts of the 61-year-old, while it was also established that money was transferred to other persons, including both the accused as accomplices.”
The investigation also revealed that the money was being transferred to the 61-year-old’s accounts, while it was also established that money had been transferred to other persons, including the 51-year-old and the 34-year-old.
Seized:
- luxury vehicle,
- 2 laptops,
- Printer,
- 2 portable storage devices (usb),
- Various bank deposit books,
- handwritten notes,
- Various letters and
- 2 mobile phones.
The file that was formed was submitted to the Criminal Prosecutor of Thessaloniki, while the digital evidence will be examined by the competent Department of the Sub-Directorate of Criminal Investigations of Northern Greece.
The announcement of the Diocese of Thessaloniki
“On the occasion of an announcement by the General Police Directorate of Thessaloniki regarding the dismantling of a criminal organization, in which, according to subsequent publications, a Clergyman is also involved, the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki announces that, by order of the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Philotheos, it has begun since the beginning of this year against in the matter of Clergy, the investigative and judicial procedure provided for by the Sacred Canons of the Church and the Laws of the State (n. 5383/1932 (Government Gazette A’ 110): “On Ecclesiastical Courts and the procedure before them”).
Based on the above procedure, the Clergyman has been removed from the Holy Temple in which he served, has been deprived of the status of a confessor and has been put on a holiday from any kind of holy practice”.
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