Police request access to bishopric’s accounts in Avakoum scandal

Police on Wednesday filed a request to gain access to bank accounts of Tamassos bishopric or anyone close the bishop to investigate complaints filed against the metropolis in Osiou Avakoum Monastery scandal.

After the scandal with the monks unfolded and police opened an investigation into two suspected of involvement in money laundering, one of the suspects Archimandrite Nektarios filed a complaint against Tamassos Bishop Isaias.

In his complaint, Nektarios said that Isaias demanded that €450,000 be given by the monastery to support the latter’s campaign in his bid for the seat of the archbishop last year.

Since Nektarios’ complaint was filed a two-member investigative team has been set up in the police to investigate the claim.

According to Philenews, the team has requested the court grant them a warrant to be able to examine the accounts of the bishopric and anyone that might be involved in the complaint filed by Nektarios.

Investigations into the complaint are at the beginning stages, and police said that they will be calling on witnesses to testify.

Meanwhile, the monks involved in the scandal are also separate facing money laundering charges filed to the police.

Earlier this month, the two, Nektarios and Porfyrios, involved in the financial scandal were released on bail and imposed with a travel ban.

The two monks were ordered to pay €100,000 and €50,00 bail, respectively, and submit all their travel documents.

Also, part of the court order is for the pair to appear at the Ayios Dhometios police station two times a week.

The court also registered a case against them at the Nicosia Criminal Court, whose first hearing will be on September 27.

The two monks face a total of 19 charges including: conspiracy to commit fraud, unlawful possession of property, theft by proxy, money laundering, false tax declaration and an act likely to influence a police investigation.

According to what was heard in court, the two defendants allegedly conspired to steal from the monastery and from the Ayios Nikolaos church in Fterikoudes, Nicosia.