Charges read to 'Kivotos tou Kosmou' founders for financial crimes, including embezzlement

The months-old investigation on the NGO's finances resulted in prosecutor Ioannis Sevis charging Father Antonios and his wife Stamatia Georganti with the crimes of fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering. According to the prosecution, Father Antonios' wife was charged with carrying out fraud and embezzlement, while her husband was charged with incitement to the crimes. Both are charged with money laundering. 

Specifically, the case file said that the couple had incurred large expenditures without justification, such as buying real estate in Pogoniani in Epirus, and of spending more to repair it. It also appears they removed a total of 2 million euros from the Kivotos tou Kosmou funds without supporting documentation, funding which the prosecutors' office said was used for purposes not related to that of the organization.

In addition, the couple was charged with embezzlement in relation to cash and valuables totaling nearly 470,000 euros found in the organization's apartment used by Father Antonios, as well as cash, jewelry, and gold coins found in bank deposit boxes. Charges also pertain to 300,000 euros that appear to be missing from the organization's assets.

Another family member and a former staff member of the NGO were each charged with different financial misdemeanors.

The priest and his wife both denied the charges when called to testify before the prosecutor.

The case has been assigned to an investigating prosecutor.