ATHENS, (Reuters) – The abbot of one of Greece’s richest and most powerful monasteries was sent to prison yesterday while awaiting trial for fraud in a high-profile land swap deal. The imprisonment of Abbot Efraim, head of the revered, 1,000-year-old Vatopedi Monastery in Mount Athos, sparked a row with Russia, another stronghold of Orthodox Christianity, which described it as a breach of human rights.
Efraim is the highest-profile individual to be arrested in the government’s latest crackdown on corruption – a chronic problem that helped spawn Greece’s seismic debt crisis.
But far from placating public anger over widespread corruption, the detention has caused an outcry in religious and conservative circles in Athens and Moscow.
Many Greeks think politicians not priests should bear the brunt of the blame for the country’s economic woes.
“They rushed Efraim to jail … while others who have embezzled Greek people’s money remain at large,” said George Karatzaferis, leader of the far-right LAOS party which is part of Greece’s coalition government.
Despite parliamentary investigations into several public officials, no senior politician has so far been charged.
“Undoubtedly the pre-trial jailing could create the impression, in one part of Greek society, that finally someone is paying for a such a big scandal,” said Costas Panagopoulos, head of ALCO pollsters. “But it also reminds everyone that all politicians involved in this case are left unpunished,” he said. The government’s anti-corruption crackdown hit another snag yesterday when two newly-appointed special prosecutors targeting economic crime resigned, complaining of political meddling. They did not give details.
SCANDAL
Cypriot-born Efraim, 56, has been accused of masterminding a scheme six years ago under which monks convinced government officials to exchange cheap farmland — including lakes — for prime Athens real estate. Prosecutors said the deal cost the Greek state tens of millions of euros.
Efraim, born Vassileios Koutsou, denies all charges. He was detained in Greece’s biggest prison, Korydallos in Athens, and could face a lengthy term behind bars if convicted.
Prosecutors demanded he be held before the trial because of the gravity of the accusations. They argued he could try to use his position to influence others if he was allowed to remain free.
Greek lawmakers have investigated three former government ministers over Vatopedi. But the case against them was dropped because it fell under a statute of limitations which applies specifically to those who have held government office.