Police deny delays over monk scandal
The police have been criticized for their handling of a scandal involving monks, with accusations of special treatment due to the church’s influence being denied by the police. Videos have surfaced showing a monk assaulting a woman and staging a fake miracle, but lawyers claim these videos are doctored and have criticized the police’s approach, suggesting evidence may have been tampered with. The police spokesman, Christos Andreou, stated that there is insufficient evidence for arrests and mentioned the possibility of issuing European arrest warrants to prevent implicated parties from fleeing the country. He confirmed that no police action would be taken until after a Holy Synod meeting, as agreed upon by the attorney general, police chief, and archbishop. Andreou also revealed that police leadership was unaware of officers in civilian clothes being present at the Osiou Avakoum monastery during an incident involving hooded individuals. This operation, ordered by Tamassos Bishop Isaias for transferring valuable items, unexpectedly included €800,000 in cash, which the police did not intervene to secure, leading to criticism from MPs. The presence of plainclothes officers and the far-right party leader, Christos Christou, at the scene has sparked further controversy. The involvement of the secret service has been rumored but not confirmed. The police have investigated the monastery multiple times but not the bishopric, and it is unclear when the money was taken into police custody for investigation.
