Monastery Scandal Unveils Financial Misconduct and Assault

April 1, 2024

Deepening Scandal at Saint Habakkuk Monastery

In a developing story that has sent shockwaves through the religious community, the Saint Habakkuk monastery is at the center of a major investigation. Philenews has reported that authorities are probing allegations of money laundering, fraud, and obtaining money by false pretences following the discovery of a significant amount of undeclared cash within the monastery’s confines.

The police are meticulously scrutinizing potential laundering of criminal proceeds. The core of the investigation revolves around the origins of these funds and the reason behind their nondisclosure to the relevant authorities. The Ministry of the Interior is closely examining the Abbey’s authorized collections, juxtaposing their duration and declared earnings against the undisclosed cash found.

Investigators are now turning to technology for answers, recovering footage from the monastery’s closed-circuit system. They aim to pinpoint when audio recording was activated, the areas under surveillance, and whether any criminal activity was documented. There is also an ongoing effort to determine if recordings were stored on external platforms such as cloud services.

The company responsible for installing the surveillance system is under scrutiny. Authorities are keen to identify individuals who had authority over sound recording, password control, and recording directives. Particular attention is being paid to video footage from the evening of March 5, when a group from the Tamassos Bishopric, with the aid of a security firm, took over the monastery and seized a safe containing €807,000—a sum whose origin is crucial to the investigation.

Video analysis is not only expected to clarify concerns from the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection but also to illuminate any potential misconduct. This comes on the heels of complaints from believers who claim they were duped into making large donations with promises of miraculous cures for personal or familial issues.

As part of the financial trail, commercial banks are divulging information on bank accounts linked to two senior monks and another individual. The Department of Land Registry is also providing insights into properties registered in their names, focusing on how these assets were acquired.

In a twist to the unfolding drama, counter-complaints have been lodged by two archimandrites against Bishop Isaias concerning the events of March 5. Their legal representatives have called for thorough investigations into various matters, including the operation of the closed-circuit system and alleged extortionate threats for money from the monastery.

Concurrently, authorities are wrapping up inquiries into another disturbing incident involving a monk who reportedly assaulted a woman with a belt, alongside another grave accusation of sexual harassment.

The scandal in Saint Habakkuk monastery involves money laundering, fraud, and obtaining money by false pretences
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