Investigation Reveals Misappropriation of Church Funds in Greece
An extensive investigation conducted by Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority has uncovered alarming evidence indicating that funds from the Catholic Church were redirected towards questionable “sacred” investments, specifically in the nightclub industry. This inquiry has already resulted in the seizure of assets belonging to five businessmen operating in the Peloponnese region.
As authorities delved into the irregularities surrounding the controversial bank accounts associated with the Church, they identified two senior priests as key figures in the unfolding scandal. Following this discovery, the investigation expanded to include the aforementioned five businessmen.
Preliminary evidence suggests that millions of euros were embezzled from accounts overseen by the priests, with a staggering €3 million reportedly unaccounted for. These missing funds have allegedly been funneled into investments in various nightclubs throughout the region, raising serious concerns about financial misconduct.
The five nightclub owners in the Peloponnese now face accusations of receiving funds believed to be laundered. In response to these serious allegations, the head of Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority has taken decisive action by freezing the assets and bank accounts of the implicated individuals. The timeline of the money laundering activities indicates that this scheme may have been in operation for the past seven to eight years, with the latest suspected illegal transfer of €50,000 occurring just days ago.
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The troubling case has now been forwarded to the chief prosecutor’s office for a comprehensive criminal investigation. Both the priests and the nightclub owners stand accused of serious offenses, including embezzlement and money laundering.
In light of these grave allegations, the Catholic Church has issued a statement, emphasizing its lack of prior knowledge regarding the actions of the implicated priests. “Following today’s press reports on embezzlement and money laundering, we declare that we have no official information on the issue. Therefore, we are awaiting an update from the relevant authorities so that we can take an official position on the matter,” the statement reads.